Pet of The Week

This is Huck. He is a Chihuahua mix approximately 5 months old. He is a shy guy when he first meets you but he warms up and loves to be petted.

We have so many wonderful pets at the Adoption Center @ 3647 Cornucopia Way Modesto. We're open Mon - Fri 9-5 and Saturday 8-5. Closed Sundays and Holidays. You can also look online at other Available Dogs and Available Cats. All of our adoptable pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro chipped.

We also have cats available for adoption at PETCO in Turlock. All of our adoptable pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro chipped.

Recent News

Archived News

Residents looking to lower their water usage need to find creative ways to change the way they garden.

More than half of the water used in urban homes is applied to outdoor landscapes! Residents looking to lower their water usage need to find creative ways to change the way they water outside. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are offering a free Low Water Use Landscaping class that can help.

UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Anne Schellman and Orchard Systems Advisor Kari Arnold will highlight easy ways to reduce water use in landscaping, which plants thrive in our area with less water, and how to design a landscape that has color year-round and is welcoming to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

This free class will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall Rooms D&E at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358.

The Alliance is a collaborative entity formed early this year to align homeless services, planning, and funding among stakeholders in Stanislaus County

On May 9th the first Stanislaus Homeless Alliance meeting was held, kicking off a critically important partnership in the community. The Alliance is a collaborative entity formed early this year to align homeless services, planning, and funding among stakeholders in Stanislaus County. The group consists of several community leaders representing organizations or agencies that work to end homelessness.

In December of 2018, the community approved this structure to align efforts and streamline the process of making funding decisions in the County aimed at addressing homelessness. The Alliance includes City and County elected officials and nonprofit leadership as well as community members concerned with a growing homeless population in our communities. Participation includes representation from Stanislaus County, City of Modesto, City of Turlock, City of Ceres, West County (Patterson/Newman), East County (Riverbank, Oakdale, Waterford and Hughson), Focus on Prevention, Community System of Care, and the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority.

The monthly Stanislaus Homeless Alliance pubic meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to be heard and policy decisions to be made. Ideally this structure will allow County, City and Community representatives to move more rapidly in concert, to make important policy decisions impacting some of our most vulnerable. Funding opportunities and project updates will be discussed each month. Cities will be responsible to bring forth their plans and match them to the broader vision of what we want to see prioritized as a County. Most importantly, the community will now have a single public forum in which to engage on the issue of homeless strategies, programs and outcomes in Stanislaus County.

More than 2 million children, adults, and seniors are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year in California.

More than 2 million children, adults, and seniors are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year in California. Thirty years ago, the State of California cut back on its services in state hospitals for people with severe mental illnesses, without providing adequate funding for mental health services in the community. To address this issue, Proposition 63 was approved by voters in 2004. Proposition 63, also called the Mental Health Services Act, was enacted in 2005 by placing a one percent tax on incomes above $1 million. It provided the first opportunity in many years to expand county mental health programs for all populations: children, transition-age youth, adults, older adults, families, and most especially, the unserved and underserved.

The Mental Health Services Act is made up of five components: Community Services & Support; Prevention & Early Intervention; Innovation; Capital Facilities & Technological Needs; and Workforce Education & Training. The goal of the Prevention & Early Intervention component is to help counties implement services that promote wellness, foster health, and prevent the suffering that can result from untreated mental illness. Effective Prevention and Early Intervention requires collaboration with consumers and family members in the development of projects and programs, and has a strong focus on recognizing early signs of mental illness, promoting and improving access and linkage to mental health services, and reducing stigma and discrimination related to mental health.

On May 3, 2019, the Prevention & Early Intervention division at Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with a special event open to County staff and the public. These efforts reflect our ongoing work to fulfill the promise of Proposition 63. As an agency and a community partner, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is committed to improve Stanislaus County’s public mental health system and invites you to become part of the mental health movement.

Modesto, California – How to Select, Plant, and Prune Your Landscape Tree workshop is offered by University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program for Stanislaus County on Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Stanislaus Building Rooms H&I at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358.

This hands-on workshop is designed to help you choose the best tree for your landscape the basics of how to keep it healthy for years to come. You'll also learn about recommended trees for Stanislaus County and take home some helpful tree guides. Weather permitting, we'll have a planting demonstration outdoors.

Stanislaus County has recently allocated $100,000 towards a Community Cleanup pilot program to clean up trash illegally dumped in alleys.

The County has recently allocated $100,000 towards a Community Cleanup pilot program targeted at cleaning up trash illegally dumped in the alleys of unincorporated communities. Through this program the County hopes to team up with community volunteers to organize several community-led cleanups. The County will assist these community-led cleanups by funding the cost dumpster rental and, in some instances, heavy equipment.

If you are interested in coordinating a community-led cleanup please contact Patrick Cavanah, Senior Management Consultant at (209) 525-6333 or at cavanahp@stancounty.com. A cleanup application can be found here.

The Keep Stan Pilot Program will continue through June 2020 or until all allocated funding has been used. Community Cleanup requests will be considered on a first-come first-served basis.

In addition to the community cleanups, a portion of the $100,000 will go towards other activities such as outreach, education, piloting long-term strategies to prevent illegal dumping, and a service aimed at assisting our public utility providers. The pilot program will continue through June 2020 or until all allocated funding has been used.

If you come across illegal dumps or other potential code enforcement issues please report it using the County’s GoRequest smartphone app, Customer Service Center found at www.stancounty.com, or by phone at 1-877-227-7478

Learn to grow an herb garden under the instruction of UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners.

Residents are invited to learn how to grow an herb garden with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program. Culinary herbs used in cooking will be the focus for this free class.

UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Anne Schellman will explain the sun, water, and cultural needs of herbs, which herbs do best in containers, and how to plan an herb garden. Free seeds will be made available to participants while supplies last.

We are in search of rental units to house families who might otherwise experience homelessness.

On March 29, 2019 the Empire Family Cold Weather Shelter will be closing. This temporary shelter allowed 23 families to be sheltered during the cold winter months. Our team was able to transition 13 families from the shelter to permanent housing. Closure of the shelter is in a few days and we have yet to house 10 families.

If you are a landlord with rental units available and interested in helping us house these families, who might otherwise experience homelessness, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

The County has two important family housing programs to assist.

The Homeless Assistance Program works to help families in need of shelter services. The following is available for families who receive cash assistance: assistance with rental deposits – paid directly to the landlord, last month’s rent, assistance with utility deposits.

The Housing Support Program is available to families who receive cash assistance AND qualify for the Welfare to Work program. Benefits include the same benefits as the Homeless Assistance program. The Housing Support Program also pays double rental deposits and pays utility bills in arrears, assists with rental subsidy, provides intensive case management, and offers a direct landlord liaison and partnership.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Modesto City Council unanimously approved a new partnership effort that will provide 180 new shelter beds.

Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Modesto City Council unanimously approved a new partnership effort that will provide 180 additional shelter beds for local homeless. The proposal was drafted over the past several months by the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office, Salvation Army and City of Modesto leadership, with the Focus on Prevention Stewardship Council, consisting of community members, area nonprofits such as the Stanislaus Community Foundation, Turning Point and United Way of Stanislaus County, along with other partners providing critical input.

This shelter expansion will require 18,000 square feet of space in the current Salvation Army Berberian Center on 9th and D streets in Modesto. The project will be funded by private donors, the City of Modesto, Stanislaus Community Foundation investment dollars and a considerable portion of the state Homeless Emergency Assistance Program (HEAP) funding received by the County earlier this month totaling over $7 million dollars. Roughly $4 million will be invested in this project. Site renovations will be required to accommodate 180 new shelter beds at the site.

Increasing affordable housing, starting with transitional shelter housing is critical to addressing our homelessness crisis. Supportive services made available through a Stanislaus County Access Center which will be located adjacent to the Salvation Army Shelter will provide mental health services, case management, and a convenient connection to social services that can help this population find stability.

While an estimated 400 homeless individuals have established camp in Modesto’s Beard Brook Park over the past 5 months, these residents are currently being relocated to an official Emergency Low-barrier Shelter (Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) set up beneath the 9th Street Bridge, just South of the Park. Over half of the homeless occupants of Beard Brook Park have been registered to the new site, occupying nearly 200 tents. More capacity through additional tents is being created as weather permits. The Stanislaus County Outreach and Engagement Team and Turning Point, the new site management organization are currently assigning tents and registering occupants. Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter is only open to homeless individuals who were camping at Beard Brook Park.

While the City and County have worked tirelessly on solutions to the homeless crisis, the understanding has been that success is only possible through partnership. According to Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez, “Government alone is not the solution to the homeless crisis, and we must rely on other public and private partners in bringing resources to the table.”

A comprehensive set of recommendations was brought to the County Supervisors and City Council for approval on February 26th, representing months of analysis and planning to determine the best use of limited City and County resources.

“Six months ago, we came before the Board of Supervisors to initiate an ongoing public discussion on the challenge of homelessness in Stanislaus County- the options and choices our community must make in order to respond to this challenge. Much has changed in that last six months, but our core mission has remained the same, to implement the Access Center vision and to establish a community-wide delivery system for addressing the challenge of homelessness in Stanislaus County,” said County CEO Jody Hayes.

Hayes also added perspective to the challenge, noting that most of the recent attention has focused on issues related to temporary emergency shelters. While these issues typically generate the most discussion, they are only the first step in a much larger discussion and strategic planning effort that needs to occur within our community. What the County is referring to as the “housing continuum” includes the major components from temporary emergency shelters, to transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and market rate housing.

“The true work of our community will only begin when we shift our focus to a discussion on the larger housing challenge before us,” said Hayes. “Building shelters to warehouse people is not our solution. The plan to develop 180 additional emergency shelter beds alone will not solve our homeless challenge in Stanislaus County, not even close. We need a more comprehensive strategy to include not just emergency shelters, but transitional housing to move individuals out of shelters and ultimately permanent housing options that reflect the incomes of our region.”

Since the Modesto Emergency Outdoor Shelter is only a temporary solution, mandated to be returned to Tuolumne River Gateway by the end of this calendar year, we must work together to plan for long-term tactic for addressing the affordable housing shortage. The County will continue to explore alternative housing options in the coming months. Ongoing strategy discussions with each of the nine cities in the County will help establish a framework for regional planning to prepare our community for current and future housing needs.

If you receive CalFresh benefits in Stanislaus County, be advised there may be a gap due to February benefits being issued early due to the federal government shutdown.

If you receive CalFresh benefits in Stanislaus County, be advised there may be a gap due to February benefits being issued early due to the federal government shutdown.

To help reduce that gap, March CalFresh benefits are being issued on March 1, 2019. If you don’t get your March CalFresh benefits early, and you are still eligible for CalFresh, you will receive your March benefits on your regularly scheduled day (the first ten days of March). Please budget these CalFresh benefits carefully because your next monthly benefits will not be available until April. For more information, call 1-877-652-0734.

Wendy Byrd of the NAACP spoke about history and equity, representing the African American community on Feb 5.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors proclaimed February Black History Month in the County, honoring this time to learn about, recognize, and celebrate the achievements of African-American men and women throughout history in America. The origins of Black History Month can be traced to the scholar Carter G. Woodson, who in 1926 conceived of a yearly celebration to help rectify the omission of African Americans from history books. The story of America cannot be told without including the contributions and places where African Americans have made history.

The Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH) has selected Black Migrations as the theme for 2019, writing “this theme focuses especially on the twentieth century through today. Beginning in the early decades of the twentieth century, African American migration patterns included relocation from southern farms to southern cities; from the South to the Northeast, Midwest, and West; from the Caribbean to US cities as well as to migrant labor farms; and the immigration of noted African Americans to Africa and to European cities, such as Paris and London, after the end of World War I and World War II. ”

In various community meetings, residents have requested safety improvements and sought updated infrastructure. Efforts have been underway to deliver. The California Transportation Commission has been instrumental in securing this funding which is on track to be available this later this year while infrastructure plans, and environmental clearance are underway.

California is a melting pot of people groups, and our region has a long history with African American people. Stockton is the birthplace of Moses Rodgers, who was born a slave and came to California during the Gold Rush, where he became an expert in mining, purchasing several mines in Mariposa County where he was politically active.

In Southern California, the Dunbar Hotel (also known as Hotel Somerville) located in Los Angeles has hosted many important meetings for the National Association for the Advancement of Color People (NAACP) and has been the venue for several noteworthy jazz legends: Louis Armstrong, Dizzie Gelespie, Lena Horn, and Ray Charles.

From coast to coast America is full of hallowed grounds where the imprints of African Americans resonate leaving a legacy of important work imprinted on our past. These sites act as a reminder of the many challenges African Americans have endured and the many contributions that have been made.

This February, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors does proclaim February 2019 as Black History Month and urge all citizens, public officials, educators, and librarians to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in support of this proclamation.

Last week the California Transportation Commission awarded a $4.9 million grant from the Active Transportation Program (ATP), a State funded program primarily for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, to the County.

Last week the California Transportation Commission awarded a $4.9 million grant from the Active Transportation Program (ATP), a State funded program primarily for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, to the County. Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) gas tax partially funds this program.

Airport Neighborhood is an historically disadvantaged region, geographically split between the City of Modesto and Stanislaus County. This area of the community has suffered from patterns of disinvestment in basic infrastructure that plague many unincorporated communities. Many streets in this neighborhood do not have sidewalks and conditions are unsafe for pedestrian traffic.

In various community meetings, residents have requested safety improvements and sought updated infrastructure. Efforts have been underway to deliver. The California Transportation Commission has been instrumental in securing this funding which is on track to be available this later this year while infrastructure plans, and environmental clearance are underway.

“The Airport Neighborhood Active Transportation Connectivity and Safety Project is the result of a collaborative effort amongst Modesto, Stanislaus County and non-profits to make the Airport Neighborhood more bike and pedestrian friendly. Because the voters of Stanislaus County approved Measure L in 2016, local transportation planners now have the resources and matching funds to pursue these transformative grants for the portions of the community that need help the most. The California Transportation Commission is honored to partner with Stanislaus County to make the Airport District a safe place to walk and bike to school,” said Paul Van Konynenburg, Vice Chairman of the California Transportation Commission.

The ATP Airport project will address many resident requests such as new sidewalks, bikeways, safely defined pathways for students in the Oroville Wright Elementary school area and various other traffic calming safety improvements like high visibility cross walks and speed cushions, in addition to bilingual safety outreach education.

"Another day to celebrate! The County submitted an excellent plan to improve air quality and mobility for the residents of our Airport District, and it was approved," said Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa. "This is going to allow us to build on the work we’ve begun, focused on high priority infrastructure in this unincorporated region of the county."

The grant funding will provide $4.9 million toward these improvements, while the County will match those funds with $1.2 million in Measure L (Bike/Pedestrian funds) provided by the county’s half-cent sales tax. The total project cost will $6.1 million. Construction on the Airport Neighborhood improvement project should begin in 2020.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) also known as Laura's Law was implemented by Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services on October 29, 2018. The program is now taking referrals from qualified families.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) also known as Laura's Law was implemented by Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services on October 29, 2018. The program is now taking referrals from qualified families.

The program was approved as a Three-Year Pilot Program by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on April 24, 2018. Laura’s Law (AOT) is civil, court-ordered treatment for individuals with severe mental illness who meet strict legal criteria. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age; reside in Stanislaus County; live with a severe and persistent mental illness; have multiple attempts to engage in treatment; have a condition that is substantially deteriorating; and, be unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision. Often, these individuals are too ill to recognize the need for treatment and the mental illness impacts their ability to make decisions in their own best interest. AOT is an outpatient mental health program and includes mental health support, case management, medication support and education. AOT also includes 24/7 access and services and support in the community.

Referrals can be made on behalf of the individual in need of treatment by a Qualified Referring Party (QRP). Individuals who meet the qualifications for a QRP are the following: a roommate, family member, police officer, licensed therapist, agency director or hospital director.

Additional information and referrals can be found on-line and can be made by completing the on-line referral form on the Stanislaus County Website at Behavioral Health and Recovery Services or by calling BHRS Warm Line at (209) 558-4600.

Celebrating Miguel Galvez, our mentor of the year who was honored at the Board of Supervisors meeting on January 15. Here is a synopsis of his acceptance presentation.

Miguel Galvez, former Stanislaus County Mentor of the Year, shares some thoughts on the merits of mentoring.

At its core, mentoring recognizes that every person has DIGNITY, a right to be valued and respected for their own sake. As mentors, we invest ourselves in the well-being and future of our mentees. We provide insight and understanding. Having a mentor is like having a friend that helps you to see the richness that is within you – a quality that you cannot yet see in yourself.

It does not stop there, every person has the potential, and often the desire, to be something more than they are – they just need a trusted guide who provides impartial advice and encouragement. When I first meet a mentee, we talk a little bit about ourselves, including our families. For example, I have heard from a previous mentee: "I have three mothers, 15 brothers and sisters and my dad lives with his girlfriend.” So I said "Well, who takes care of you at home?" "My mom works, so my grandmother takes care of me." How often do you see your dad? “Oh, he comes to see me on my birthday."

Most of the mentees that participate in this program come from a place of poverty. Financial poverty. Emotional poverty. A lack of safe living conditions, where the school is the only safe and stable environment. Some of these kids even experience a poverty of hope. Most are just trying to survive each day, the best way they know how…In today’s society, we are valued - not based on our dignity and our potential, but on our circumstances, our appearance: the clothes and shoes we wear, the type of home we live in, the car that we drive, the material goods we have, our presumed status in society. Even at school, children can be cruel and merciless.

They may be called names, be left out, picked last for a team, feel unloved, or lost. Those are lies that they are told. They just need to hear a different perspective - One that has their best interest at heart. Mentors have a unique opportunity: to leverage their skills and experience, to shed light - where there hasn’t been enough to give and invest a portion of their life to instill different insight into who they truly are and can be. Mentoring requires you to be truly present, lean-in, look, listen, bring light, teach, lead the mentee in discovering that they not only have value, but can bring value to others. And that they are loved for who they are. I recently heard a quote that best captures the role of a mentor to me.

"The older a teacher gets, the more they stop advancing their own career and begin celebrating the accomplishments of their students." Indeed, it is a pleasure to be here, not to hear about, what, we the mentors do and accomplish, but to value and reflect on what our mentees can and do accomplish. It is a wonder-filled journey of discovery. I invite you to come along.

Anyone interested in joining the County mentoring program can learn more by calling Norma Baker at 209.525.4357.

If you receive CalFresh benefits in Stanislaus County, be advised of important changes that could affect you and your family due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

February CalFresh benefits for most participants will now be issued early, on January 16, 2019, for Stanislaus County residents. This includes the following:

All clients who do not have a CalFresh report due in January

Clients who have a CalFresh report due in January and whose report has been received and continuing eligibility has been determined in advance of the early issuance process

If you receive your February CalFresh benefits early, you are encouraged to plan your food budget knowing that there will be a longer period between the early issuance and your next normally scheduled issuance in March. Clients not included in the "early issuance" group will get February food benefits through normal processes and on their normal issuance dates, as long as they are determined eligible.

New applications will continue to be accepted and processed, and expedited services will be available as usual.

"Marriage at the Mansion" offers each couple a romantic setting at the beautifully restored historic McHenry Mansion.

Stanislaus County Clerk - Commissioner of Civil Marriages, Donna Linder invites engaged couples to be married on Valentine’s Day at the McHenry Mansion in Modesto. "Marriage at the Mansion" offers each couple a romantic setting at the beautifully restored historic McHenry Mansion.

Civil Ceremonies will be offered in English & Spanish on February 14th by appointment between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Marriage licenses must be purchased and appointments made in advance at the County Clerk’s Office located at 1021 "I" Street, Modesto. The cost of the license and ceremony is $121 or $126 for confidential marriage licenses.

"Couples planning to tie the knot in 2019 should reserve their Valentine’s Day wedding early for this romantic venue," stated Linder. "The non-religious civil ceremonies will be conducted in English or Spanish. Guests are limited to 15 for each wedding and children must be age 12 or older to attend."

For more information contact the County Clerk Office at 209-525-5250 or call 209-525-5230 for assistance in Spanish

Anyone who takes prescription opioids can become addicted to them. In fact, as many as one in four people receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with opioid addiction.

In 2017, Stanislaus County had nearly 1 opioid prescription dispensed for every resident, with 529,832 prescriptions dispensed. There were 15 overdose deaths documented.

“The current opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Overdoses, fueled by opioids, are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old – killing roughly 64,000 people last year, more than guns or car accidents, and doing so at a pace faster than the HIV epidemic did at its peak.” New York Times, October 2017

The Stanislaus County Opioid Coalition is a collaboration of healthcare, education, community based organizations, law enforcement, county agencies, and concerned citizens determined to turn the tide of our local opioid epidemic. Our mission is to build a sustainable community of partnerships committed to preventing and reducing opioid misuse & abuse by promoting a culture of wellness through education, prevention, treatment and recovery support. There are four workgroups, summit planning committee, community education & outreach, provider education & safe prescribing practices, and opioid use disorder treatment.

During our December, 2018 meeting we finalized our mission statement and our summit planning committee updated us on their progress. For community education & outreach, the timeline for website was discussed and public service announcements were approved. There was a presentation on wound botulism associated with black tar heroin use. An increase statewide has been seen in 2018 with some local clusters. In Stanislaus County, there have been two confirmed and one still undergoing testing since the beginning to October 2018.

Our next meeting will be held on January 16, 2019, 8:30 am-10:30 am at Sutter Gould Education Center, 1700 McHenry Ave, Ste 60B, Modesto. We are planning an Opioid Awareness Summit on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Modesto Centre Plaza from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For more information on coalition activities, please contact Jennifer Marsh at JMarsh@StanBHRS.org or call (209) 525-5315.

Senator Dianne Feinstein announced yesterday the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded four California projects $72.5 million in grants.

In November 2016, residents of Stanislaus County voted overwhelmingly to approve Measure L, instituting a special 25-year, one-half cent sales tax increase for local transportation improvement projects. This designated Stanislaus a “Self-help County,” creating opportunities for federal funding like the TIGER and BUILD grants.

“Stanislaus County has had strong leadership in the Public Works department. The team has worked hard to secure the necessary funding for road infrastructure work,” said Paul Van Konyenburg, of the California Transportation Commission. “But they didn’t do this alone. We are so grateful that Senator Feinstein fought for us, and that Jeff Denham represented well in Washington on our behalf to highlight the needs of our community.”

“The passage of Measure L and becoming a Self-help County has made an enormous difference. We are able to compete well with leveraging funding,” said Vito Chiesa, Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.

“This is outstanding for Stanislaus County. The North County Corridor is a critical inter-regional connectivity project that will positively impact the movement of our goods and services,” said Supervisor Terry Withrow, who has been a champion in leading our regional projects and ensuring their forward momentum.

Congress tripled the funding for the program this year to $1.5 billion. California’s $72.5 million is double what California received on average during the Obama administration and eight times the amount received last year

“Investment in our transportation infrastructure is necessary for California’s long-term economic growth,” said Senator Feinstein. “These grants, combined with state and private funding, will ensure these vital projects can move forward

California projects

$15 million for San Francisco roadway improvements on Market Street between 6th and 8th streets, including roadway resurfacing, streetcar track replacement, upgrading traffic signals and a new F-line streetcar turnaround loop at McAllister Street and Charles J. Brenham Place.

$20 million for Imperial County to widen the existing bridge at the Calexico Border Patrol Station to accommodate two additional northbound commercial truck lanes, two additional northbound passenger vehicle lanes, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

$17.5 million for Kern County to widen 5 miles of Route 46 to four lanes in each direction, add 1 mile of bike lanes and sidewalks, and build a new bridge.

$20 million for Stanislaus County to build 3 miles of the new SR 108 North County Corridor, a six-lane expressway.

Nineteen families in Stanislaus County now have a place to call home this winter thanks to a unique community project.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors has designated the Empire Migrant Center in the community of Empire as a cold weather shelter for homeless families. The shelter will utilize 21 of the 90 dwelling units as temporary housing for homeless families during the winter months when the property is not in use.

“Lack of affordable housing is the leading cause of homelessness among low income households,” stated Kathryn Harwell, Director of the Community Services Agency (CSA). “Our goal is to help families become self-sufficient. This program will provide them needed stability so they can engage in services and continue their search for permanent housing and employment.”

Families that are currently being case managed in CSA’s Housing Support Program are eligible for the housing units. The program will run from November 2018 through March of 2019. In addition to housing, families will also receive services and supports utilizing wraparound services that include referrals and employment services.

Developing the temporary housing project involved collaboration and partnership among several community agencies.

The Stanislaus County Housing Authority is operating the shelter located at 5132 South Avenue. CSA is leasing the units and working with the Stanislaus County Affordable Housing Corporation (STANCO) to provide property management services. Other county partners include Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Planning and Community Development, and Community Housing and Shelter Services.

The projected cost is $125,000 with funding coming from the CSA CalWORKS Housing Support Program. It includes the building lease and property management. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved the housing project at its meeting on November 6, 2018.

Michael Merenda began camping at Modesto's Moose Park up until the 9th Circuit ruling passed where he was then moved to Beard Brook Park.

Michael Merenda became homeless on July 11, 2018. He began camping at Modesto's Moose Park up until the 9th Circuit ruling passed where he was then moved to Beard Brook Park. Michael became homeless after having lost custody of his children and admits having gone through stages of depression. Michael stated he knew of the county’s Homeless Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) through outreach staff who would regularly visit Beard Brook Park offering services, however he was too “ego-minded” and did not want help from anyone. It was not until he decided to open up and ask for help that his life began to change. One day in early October, Michael decided to accept services from the outreach staff. He was connected to OEC’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Outreach Worker, Regina Brown. After having identified Michael’s needs, Regina immediately connected Michael through BHRS programs as well as the OEC’s Housing Assessment Team to gather the appropriate documents needed for housing.

Michael was also connected to Turning Point Community Program’s Empowerment Center where he was provided assistance for his employment needs. After several weeks of working with Michael, the OEC was able to help him obtain housing through Community Impact Central Valley for a two-year transitional housing program. He is also now employed at the Empowerment Center as a Career Explorer where he will be providing peer support to homeless individuals and assisting them in their job search. In addition to working hard to gain back custody of his children, he states he wants to work for the county to give back to the community. Michael would like to thank the following staff who have assisted him as he states they have been “an answer to his prayers”: Regina Brown of Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Christina Kenney and Danica Freitas with the Housing Assessment Team, and Nicole Mitchell of the Empowerment Center.

Stanislaus County is grieving the loss of Deputy Tony Hinostroza, who was killed on November 25th during a collision during a high speed vehicle pursuit.

Riverbank CA - Deputy Antonio “Tony” Hinostroza (45) was killed in a vehicle collision just before 10:00 PM just outside of Riverbank, CA. Deputy Hinostroza was responding to assist Riverbank Police Services deputies on a vehicle pursuit when he collided with a power pole at the intersection of Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road.

Deputy Hinostroza was a 19-year veteran with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Hinostroza was hired as a deputy sheriff in January 1999. He was assigned to the patrol division out of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department main office. During his career, Deputy Hinostroza served as a patrol deputy, K9 handler, Gang Detective, SWAT team member, and Field Training Officer. Hinostroza was a Police Explorer for Ceres Police Department from 1990 until 1992 when he enlisted to serve in the United States Marine Corps until 1996. Hinostroza then worked as a reserve police officer and dispatcher for the city of Waterford before being hired by then-Sheriff Les Weidman. Hinostroza leaves behind one adult son.

At 9:48 p.m., Riverbank Police Services deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Oakdale Road and Patterson Road in Riverbank for a report of a driver of a silver Cadillac Escalade passed out behind the wheel. Deputies arrived and the driver of the Escalade sped off leading deputies on a pursuit. Deputies deployed spike strips on the Escalade which became disabled at the intersection of Fine Avenue and Cambridge Court in Modesto. The driver fled from the vehicle and began fighting with deputies forcing them to deploy a less-lethal bean bag to subdue him and take him into custody.

Dispatch began getting 911 calls of a Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle crashed into a power pole at Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road. CHP, Deputies, Ambulance and Fire responded to the scene in an attempt to rescue Deputy Hinostroza, but he died of his injuries at the scene.

Jonathan Carrillo-Gonzalez (30- Modesto) was the driver of the Escalade. He was arrested for driving under the influence, felony evasion, and resisting arrest. His license was suspended in June 2018 for DUI and has had at least 3 prior convictions for DUI in the past 9 years.

This week the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters continued with the canvass process of the General Election.

Over 650 volunteer election officers worked to support this General Election. There were also 23 adopt-a-poll volunteer organizations 88 student poll workers and 14 field inspectors supporting this election at the polls. Preparation for the election officer stipend process has begun.

Reconciliation audit process on each of the 141 polling site rosters and materials continued today and is 50% complete. Today the office began work on a 1% hand tally of the vote which will continue until completed. Damaged ballots have been organized and prepared to be duplicated and the duplication process of damaged, military and overseas ballots has begun.

Approximately 11,000 provisional ballots and several thousand military, damaged, 7-day absentee and reconciliation ballots remain to be reviewed and processed before they are ultimately counted. Provisional ballots are voted at the polls when a voter's registration is in question, or when our records indicate the voter has already sent in a vote by mail ballot. Provisionally voted ballots are sealed in special envelopes at the polls and must be individually researched and verified at the ROV's Office before ballots are counted or rejected in accordance with election laws.

The canvass will continue until complete. The office will be closed Thurs.-Fri. Nov. 22-23, 2018 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday and the canvass will re-commence on Mon. Nov. 26th. California law requires certification of this election to be on or before Thurs. Dec. 6, 2018, which is 30-days following Election Day.

More information regarding the November 6, 2018 General Election is available on the website at Stanvote or by contacting the Elections Office at 209-525-5200.

Smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County is affecting our air quality and has created a potential health hazard in Stanislaus County.

Smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County is affecting our air quality and has created a potential health hazard in Stanislaus County. Based on current air quality levels, Stanislaus County Public Health is not recommending school closures or cancelling normal business activities.

For the General Public:

Please be aware that poor wildfire containment and shifting winds can drastically change air quality in a short period of time. Smoke from wildfires can affect health. The most common symptoms are eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Persons with health problems, especially heart or respiratory conditions, should take extra caution. Follow these precautions to protect your health:

Minimize outdoor activities

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible

Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside

Run your air-conditioner or heat only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors

Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you experience symptoms related to smoke exposure

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Environmental Impact Report(EIR) for the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park, certifying that the 1,500 acre plot used in World War II and for later military functions is now ready for rebirth. Since 1999, when site clean up first began, there have been talks about infrastructure, meetings about job opportunities, conversations with legislators and planners, strategy sessions on infrastructure but nothing as momentous as today’s decision, moving us “one step closer to this promising and exciting opportunity,” as stated by Supervisor Kristin Olsen.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors dedicated $22.9 million in the 2018-2019 Final Budget to support development of the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park. At full build out, Crows Landing could provide 14,000 jobs for local residents, eliminating the need to commute out of county. It is also primely located for easy access to the Bay Area and boasts a usable air strip. The appeal of a Northwest to Southeast runway sets this site apart from other development opportunities in the region.

It provides a path to creating jobs where people live. “Either we are serious about creating jobs or we’re not,” according to Supervisor Olsen, who has remained close to discussions on this project for many years as an elected official with the City of Modesto, State Assembly and now as a Stanislaus County Supervisor. Assistant CEO, Keith Boggs addressed this topic in his message to Supervisors on Tuesday as well, attesting to the woes of commuters in Stanislaus County.

“Ours is a commuter culture,” said Boggs in his presentation and staff reqeust to accept the EIR and allocate millions of County funds to infrastructure, planning and general support this effort. “So many of our fulltime workers leave the County each day, traveling significant distances to work, only to face the same commute in the evening, spending tragic amounts of time in a car or van pool, in traffic congestion, not at home, not with family, without the time to engage with neighborhood or community. The Crows Landing Industrial Business Park will further contribute to providing living wage jobs here, reducing or eliminating many work commutes. This is about creating jobs where our people live,” Boggs concluded.

Developing a healthy economy means providing jobs and encouraging local investments. This is the target approach of the new Opportunity Zone designation approved earlier this year, which the Crows Landing Industrial Park has been designated part of - allowing investors to avoid costly Capital Gains tax and defer payment for ten years on property investment/development in any of the designated tax incentive “Opportunity Zones.” The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided the new tax incentive to inspire private investments in low-income areas of the United States, based on U.S. census data. Earlier in October, the Treasury department released regulations that economists believe will facilitate hundreds of billions of dollars in private capital.

Phase I of Crows Landing Industrial Business Park development can begin as soon as the final entitlement processes are complete in early December. For the right investors, this is a diamond in the rough. Located less than one mile from CA Highway I-5, the location is well suited for logistics and goods distribution. A ten-minute connection flight to San Jose Airport, twelve minutes to Oakland Airport, or thirteen minutes to San Francisco, as well as quick and easy freeway access to the Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, provide a level of convenience the County believes will appeal to most developers and corporate decision makers in the urban bay region.

Crows Landing project objectives include a regional employment center, attractive location for manufacturing, industry and distribution, a mix of land use classifications, services (i.e. transit, banking and child care for workers), shovel-ready infrastructure, general aviation capabilities, a walkable/attractive industrial business park campus, and historical recognition of the site’s original use.

Transportation studies and environmental impact reports of the area, indicate increased traffic impacting West County regions of Newman and parts of Patterson. Negotiations are underway to prepare for road use increases as the County works with the cities affected. A thirty-day comment period, through November 13th will allow for reaction to the EIR, found here Phase I of the Crows Landing Project is on track to be shovel ready in early 2020 and is expected to develop in phases over the next thirty years.

In the first year of the program, 30 employees of Stanislaus County started mentoring.

Friday, Oct 12, 2018 (Manteca, CA) – Keith Boggs of Modesto/Oakdale was recently honored by the leaders of the Great Valley Bookfest, who presented him with their Literacy Hero Award.

In 1999, Keith Boggs developed a mentor program to address Stanislaus County’s dropout rate of 23.6%, which was one of the highest for the state of California. He initiated a community-driven solution to combat apathy and hopelessness caused by gaps in academic skills, low self-esteem, lack of role models, emotional detachment, and/or language barriers.

In the first year of the program, 30 employees of Stanislaus County started mentoring. Last year, 188 mentors worked in teams to provide over 2,500 hours of youth mentoring.

The Stanislaus County mentoring program uses a team-based approach to help volunteers balance their busy schedules. Teams are comprised of as many as three individuals, so volunteers can rotate their mentor days and provide backup when someone has an unexpected scheduling conflict, ensuring that their young protégé consistently receives visits twice a week.

The program has grown in large part due to participation from partner organizations. Over the years, Boggs has forged working partnerships with other local agencies, including city governments (Hughson and Modesto), the Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Modesto Junior College. He has also developed partnerships with community organizations like the 500 Lions Club, Modesto Rotary, and City Ministries.

In addition to his volunteer role, Keith Boggs is the Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. In spite of his heavy workload, Boggs has remained the champion and guiding force of the Employee Mentoring effort, serving as a mentor himself and contributing enormous amounts of his personal time to the program.

“The Bookfest leadership team was impressed and inspired by this mentoring program and the investment Mr. Boggs has made in the lives of local children,” commented Melissa King, who chairs the award committee. “It is our great pleasure to recognize him among our region's Literacy Heroes.”

Now celebrating the completion of its twentieth year, the Stanislaus County Employee Mentor program continues to attract employees and partner organizations who wish to give back and become involved in the lives of young people in Stanislaus County. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a mentor can apply online: Employee Mentors

Stanislaus County encourages everyone to be CPR and First Aid trained and to learn how to use an AED before trying to save a life.

When a heart stops, it only takes six minutes before the brain starts dying from lack of oxygen. This is why Stanislaus County makes life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available to each department, allowing those who are trained to use them, the chance to delay this process by minutes can be crucial in the event of a heart related emergency.

Prior to this recent training, only third floor investigators in the District Attorney’s office were trained to use the AED. However, as peace officers, many investigators are not always physically in the office. Depending on assignments and emergency callouts, the response time for them to assist with a person down could be longer than six minutes. To address this need for additional trained staff, recently the District Attorney offered AED, CPR and First Aid training to any employee interested in taking the class. Now there are multiple employees throughout the department who are trained to save a life.

The three-hour training provided class participants the opportunity to practice using the AED and doing CPR on mannequins. They learned how to keep chest compressions going for several minutes while waiting for fire or ambulance personal to respond, which can be physically exhausting. Using the AED is simple since the machine voice prompts you every step of the way, but it is no substitute for CPR.

Stanislaus County encourages everyone to be CPR and First Aid trained and to learn how to use an AED before trying to save a life.

In Stanislaus County, the landscape is changing. We have officially rebooted our Regional Tourism Roundtable with a small, representative group of partners.

Rural areas once inhabited only by trees and visited only by their growers and harvesters are now frequented by everyday folks – people who want to be closer to their food. So close, in fact, that they can interrupt the food chain to pluck what they eat straight from the earth. “Farm-to-table” is now a do-it-yourself experience.

Urban areas are transforming empty commercial spaces that once housed department stores into multi-use gathering spots with coffee shops, tech hubs, gift shops and hotels – brimming with locally sourced items. Boutique distilleries with posh tasting rooms can be found in industrial parks on the outskirts of town and craft beer makers are becoming destination spots.

We’re using space differently. Newly ordained “Opportunity Zones” are places where incentivization can bolster imagination. Smart planning can lead to a future of local job creation and economic growth. So, how does tourism play into this changing landscape?

Tourism is one of California’s the most lucrative “export-oriented” industries. During 2016, visitors to California contributed $126.3 billion to the economy with Stanislaus County seeing roughly $41.3 million due to tourism.

During the economic downturn, direct travel spending decreased by 3.9 percent. But a happy accident occurred. The “staycation” phenomenon. In-state travel surged as travelers focused on local destinations, avoiding airfares and finding new leisure activities nearby. We Californians continue to be the mainstay of the state’s travel and tourism industry. Nearly $135 million was spent in 2016 by Stanislaus County visitors on day travel.

With almost 600,000 people living in Stanislaus County and 4 million within a 50-mile radius, it’s time to amplify what there is to see and do where we live. It’s time to sell our community.

We have no famous mouse, landmark bridge, or awe-inspiring mountains. But we do have a thriving arts scene, classic car culture, farm-fresh cuisine, the largest privately-owned winery worldwide and an Americana experience that could captivate millions of tourists simply driving through week in and week out. We just have to find the best ways to tell them about it.

It’s time we appeal to those who visit for a conference but then leave. We should lure them into staying, eating, drinking, taking in a show. But how? And whose job is that anyway?

Enter the Regional Tourism Roundtable. The County convened a tourism focused group 20 years ago, in 1998. This effort included all nine Stanislaus County cities, chambers of commerce and key tourism businesses. We talked about all things tourism and focused on how we could leverage funds, tell our stories and promote our region collaboratively. When the economy took a hit, this meant all of us had to take a hard look at priorities. We were forced to refocus on core missions.

We asked the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the investment in regional tourism. And we have officially rebooted our Regional Tourism Roundtable with a small, representative group of partners to our first convening. The discussion provided us with incredible insight as to how we can begin leveraging the power of local “fun makers.” Our hope is the Regional Tourism Roundtable can promote our beautiful communities and all we have to offer to a traveler or tourist.

The state highway system was designed to move people and products efficiently, helping to make California's economy one of the greatest in the world.

The state highway system was designed to move people and products efficiently, helping to make California’s economy one of the greatest in the world. Whether transporting people from their home to their job, or vegetables from the San Joaquin Valley to Southern California, highways make it happen. Our State Route 132 (SR-132), which transports commuters, truck drivers, travelers and others as they depart Modesto and begin their journey to the Bay Area has been virtually unchanged for 85 years.

SR-132 from the City of Modesto to Gates Road started as a two-lane state highway in 1933, and it remains two lanes - despite dramatic population growth, an increase in trucking and the daily crush as legions of commuters drive back and forth to their Bay Area jobs. The traffic congestion experienced by these commuters can be unbearable. But this is changing, thanks to a cooperative game plan by Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto. The County has started environmental work on its SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project, a four-lane freeway that will transport vehicles and cyclists the 6 miles from Dakota to Gates. When that roadway opens in 2027, it will connect to State Route 132 West – a City of Modesto project – and provide a four-lane route from SR-99 west to Gates Road.

“A safe and well-planned transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of any community. As our agriculture and other industries continue to expand, we must have adequate transportation corridors to get goods and services in and out of our County,” said Terry Withrow, the Stanislaus County Supervisor. “In addition, the improvement to a four-lane divided highway, versus the old two-lane, slow and dangerous route, will help ensure that residents who have to commute long distances to work each day will make it back home safely with less time stuck in traffic,” Withrow noted.

Local residents and others will have an opportunity to learn more about the project, voice their opinions and discuss the plan with Stanislaus County and Caltrans officials, during an October 10 meeting at Franklin Elementary School, 201 S. Emerald Avenue in west Modesto. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The project plan has four alternatives all will transform SR-132 as we know it. The City of Modesto’s SR-132 West Project will create a new route from SR-99/Kansas Avenue to Dakota Avenue, shifting SR-132 north from its location on Maze Boulevard. Phase 1 of that project is expected to start in 2019, while Phase 2 begins in 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028. This is significant, because Phase 2 expands that route to four lanes that will flow into The County’s four-lane SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project, scheduled to break ground in 2025 and be completed in 2027.

A four lane SR-99 to Gates Road will meet the needs of our community well into the future and bring relief to commuters, businesses and others. The County’s project could build the new route adjacent to existing SR-132/Maze Boulevard or it could mirror Kansas Avenue – blazing a new trail west to Gates Road. This will require patience due to legal requirements that mandate environmental studies be performed before the SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road project breaks ground. Experts will carefully weigh alternatives, making sure the final route is the most efficient use of money and best for motorists.

Construction estimates range from $78 million to $143 million, depending on the alignment. A range of costs is typical during planning, until detailed studies are done and the preferred alternative selected. “The County has entered into a unique partnership with Caltrans to deliver this proposed project. We look forward to fulfilling the County voter’s mandate to improve safety and mobility in our region when they approved the Measure L Transportation Sales Tax,” said David Leamon, Interim Director for Stanislaus County Public Works. “Also, environmental law requires us to explore viable alternatives. We have developed four. It’s important that we engage with the public to make sure we’re not having a negative impact on the people, or the environment. We want to do it right.”

Because the project’s timeline extends to 2027, the county has created and will continually update a website to keep residents informed as work proceeds. Please visit

Green living Stanislaus County residents in Oakdale and Modesto who drive electric vehicles now have the convenience of two new charging stations...

Green living Stanislaus County residents in Oakdale and Modesto who drive electric vehicles now have the convenience of two new charging stations made available for use last weekend. The stations were recently installed at the Downtown Modesto and Oakdale libraries.

In 2016 County officials became aware of the fact that there were very few charging stations in our county and most of them were located at car dealerships instead of public spaces. With approval from the Board of Supervisors, and grant funding, the process of installing the stations began. The stations were opened for use this week. Modesto library on I street is the only charging station currently available in Downtown Modesto according to the PlugShare app which locates and maps electric vehicle charging stations. Each site has one charging station which holds two ports (each port can charge one car at a time).

Library staff is eager to see the stations used. “The charging stations will promote clean air technology, and the use of low or zero emission vehicles enhances the library’s digital presence, which may attract a new group of people to the library,” said Library Director Diane McDonnell.

Both locations use Level 2 (240V) dual plug (J-1772) charging stations. To use the stations, electric vehicle drivers need a ChargePoint card or the ChargePoint app. A Level 2 voltage charge provides about twice the charging power of the average Level 1 home charger.

The total cost of the project was $38,000 including installation. The project expense was shared by the County Library and General Services Agency Fleet Services Division, the Oakdale Tourism and Visitors Bureau and a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. There will be no fee for the use of any County charging station in the first year of operation. However, there is a 4hr charging limit per customer.

On August 29, 2018, the Stanislaus Community System of Care Outreach and Engagement Team organized the fourth bi-monthly Mobile Access Center event at Mellis Park in West Modesto.

On August 29, 2018, the Stanislaus Community System of Care Outreach and Engagement Team, a group of multi-sector community partners and other community agencies, organized the fourth bi-monthly Mobile Access Center event at Mellis Park in West Modesto. The purpose of the event was for outreach staff and community agencies to connect with and provide services to individuals in the community who are currently experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness. This unique event offers a “meet you where you are” approach where outreach staff go straight to those in need of assistance.

The event was a success with 33 organizations present and over 200 individuals served at the event. Some of the organizations at the event included: Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Community Services Agency, Health Services Agency, Turning Point, Modesto Police Department, DRAIL, Community Housing and Shelter Services, Golden Valley Health Center, Center for Human Services, and many others. One new important partnership is with the DMV. Identification is key to helping people getting off the streets. The DMV has partnered to provide on-site applications. This type of strategic partnership and services are crucial in preventing and reducing homelessness. Many services were provided at the event, some of them included ID registration; STD testing; mental health services; housing assistance; and services for youth, victims, and veterans. Even veterinary checks for pets were provided.

These events are most successful if we can provide the wide range of services needed for our residents who are at risk for and experience homelessness. Ultimately, we hope to provide services that will eventually lead to housing, the betterment of individuals’ social and mental condition, and an improved quality of life.

“Our mobile access centers are a learning process for us, allowing us to test ideas. We are seeing the value of taking our partners and moving our outreach and engagement teams to where people are,” said Stanislaus County Deputy Executive Officer Ruben Imperial who leads the Focus on Prevention initiative. “Homelessness is a county wide problem and the mobile access centers allow us to provide services in rural areas as well as our major cities across the county. We should be out in our community as much as possible seeking individuals who need our help. We will take what we learn and further improve our efforts.”

The next Mobile Access Center event will be held at the end of October in Turlock.

In May, Amtrak San Joaquins launched a “Morning Express Service” that brings riders throughout the San Joaquin Valley north to the state capital before 8:00AM.

In May, Amtrak San Joaquins launched a “Morning Express Service” that brings riders throughout the San Joaquin Valley north to the state capital before 8:00AM. San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority has focused on making the Amtrak train more usable to valley residents and sees this as a move in the right direction. Governed by Board Members representing each of the 10 Member Agencies, the Authority is currently chaired by Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa.

The daily Morning Express service begins in Fresno, CA, departing before 5:00AM and makes stops in Madera, Merced, Turlock-Denair, and then Modesto at 6:00AM. It then stops in Stockton, and Lodi and arrives at the downtown Sacramento Valley Station just before 8:00AM. Return service departs Sacramento after lunch hour and again around 5:30PM, making stops at each of the stations along the San Joaquins southbound line. Weekend routes run later. The schedule is currently changing slightly based on rider feedback. So it is advised to check the website for planning purposes.

This new schedule offers a much more convenient option for business travelers and same-day leisure travelers alike. According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute’s Northern California Megaregion Study, over 23,000 daily-trips occur from as far south as Merced County to Sacramento. This new service reaches even further south to Madera and Fresno Counties.

Until the launch of this Morning Express service, the first northbound train was not scheduled to arrive in Sacramento until 11:20am. The old model also only offered two round trips each day. You could arrive in Sacramento either around noon or 11:30pm. This made it a challenge to attract business travelers who need to arrive early in the day or arrive home for dinner.

Passengers can transfer to Sacramento Regional Transit’s local bus and light rail system once they arrive in Sacramento, or the station is only a short walk from the Capitol, as well as many state agencies and downtown businesses. Additionally, Amtrak has a formal partnership with Lyft, as passengers who sign up to request a Lyft through the Amtrak App will receive $5 off each of their first four rides.

Amtrak San Joaquins’ onboard amenities make travel time much more productive and enjoyable than driving. Comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi allow passengers to work or relax while they ride. And the trains feature a regional selection of snacks, sandwiches, coffee, craft beer and more. Not only is this new offering good for business travelers, but the environmental impact is noteworthy as well. Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions were a consideration in pulling the trigger on this new route.

You can share your opinion on the status of children in Stanislaus County by completing a quick survey

The Stanislaus County Children and Families Commission / First 5 Stanislaus is developing a strategic plan and your help is needed. They are looking for community feedback on issues facing children and families in Stanislaus County.

You are invited to take a short, online survey. This survey is anonymous and will take 15 minutes or less to complete. The survey is available in both Spanish and English.

The State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) continues to propose that 40% of the water produced by the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers watershed be released to the San Joaquin River...

The State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) continues to propose that 40% of the water produced by the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers watershed (“unimpaired flow”) be released to the San Joaquin River so that it can flow into the southern Delta under their Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Plan). The Water Board asserts that this flow regime will have limited harmful effects. In truth, this is a water grab and it will have long-term, devastating impacts to our region.

Following years of tug-of-war with the Water Board, multiple review and public input sessions, including extensive scientific research, the Water Board is giving voice to our region for only 21 days to review and comment on the latest draft, the Final Amendments to the Plan. The local irrigation districts, whom are most directly affecting by the Plan, are working to petition the Water Board for more time to comment. As it currently stands, comments will be accepted only through noon on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Assembly member Adam Gray released the following statement condemning the announcement from the State Water Resources Control Board proposal to adopt radical new requirements to seize and waste critically needed San Joaquin Valley water. “The State Water Resources Control Board’s decision today is the first shot fired in the next chapter of California’s water wars. The board has chosen to create, in their own words, ‘a permanent regulatory drought’ and shrugged off our concerns as ‘significant but unavoidable’…A small group of special interests have spent years plotting one of the largest water takes in our state’s history. People [could] question why the proponents of a plan designed to save fish cannot demonstrate any meaningful benefit to those very fish or why the questions and concerns of a million people do not deserve even a halfhearted response.”

Stanislaus County will stand with those who oppose the new proposal and will continue to negotiate in favor of the best interests of the Valley. We will support a policy that opposes such extreme increases in unimpaired flows. Local control of water is the only way we can meet local needs.

The Water Board will hold Public Hearings in Sacramento on August 21-22 to consider adoption of the Plan. Speakers will be limited to three minutes. We encourage you and or your representatives to attend. Stay close to the conversation by following the Worth Your Fight on Twitter and Facebook feeds.

The Community Assessment Response and Engagement effort is a targeted approach to addressing what many see as a crisis in our community.

In December 2017, over fifty community leaders were convened to discuss noticeable problem behaviors in and around the core of downtown Modesto. The group made a commitment to support a 90-day review and strategy process focused on addressing what many see as a crisis in our community. Out of that meeting, the Community Assessment Response Engagement (CARE) program began as an intensive effort to address the issues that arise in communities when homelessness is coupled with mental illness and substance use and/or alcohol abuse.

While recent efforts such as Focus on Prevention have begun to make progress in strengthening the community's system of care in response to local homelessness, an urgent response was not available. A small population is in need of immediate help- individuals experiencing significant distress for themselves while also causing distress to the community. These are individuals that often exhibit high-risk health and safety behaviors, engage in vagrancy-related criminal behavior, experience high-frequency emergency department use, high-frequency jail detention due to behavior resulting from serious mental illness and substance use disorders, and many experience frequent detention for evaluation and treatment.

The CARE initiative is an innovative approach to a complex problem. Over a 90 day period, a work group met weekly to map assets, unpack problematic processes, and identify service gaps while building a new approach that could increase accountability, and alignment- developing a system and service model that has never been utilized in our community. The group was made up of representatives of twenty or more partners who directly serve this population, regularly working with those who show signs of high-risk health and safety behaviors, mental illness, criminal behavior and substance use. This effort was led by Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto with Emergency Medical Services, Doctor's Hospital, Probation, Board and Care Homes, Probation, District Attorney and many others at the table.

"This really represents what a true partnership is. With public agencies joining together, along with the private sector," said County CEO Jody Hayes. "It began with a discussion about what we can realistically expect to accomplish through the long term efforts of the Focus on Prevention initiative, recognizing that even with all of our work, it is going to take us some time to see meaningful results. But many of us are driving to work each day seeing individuals in distress in our community. We knew we needed to challenge ourselves to come up with something else to serve individuals who are not being served through the system."

A Multi-Disciplinary Team(MDT) made up of police & fire department from the Homeless Engagement and Response (HEART) Team, behavioral health and recovery services clinicians and other support services were deployed as a pilot program model to engage this priority population, determine how individuals might be helped, and how ongoing issues might be addressed. Over a span of two weeks the pilot program tested a new service model with multiple agencies working in tandem to engage individuals on a case-by-case basis. Results of the two week pilot indicated that many were willing to engage (75% signed the release of information, 25% agreed to services).

On June 26, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved the continuation of the CARE MDT strategy to address vagrancy and help individuals in distress due to severe mental illness and substance use disorders in our county. Contingency funds of $500,000 from the Focus on Prevention budget will be used if needed, along with the following approved resources:

Three staff including one Fire Fighter-Paramedic, one Police Officer, and one Police Sergeant provided by the City of Modesto at an estimated total cost of $616,000.

One Public Health Nurse/Registered Nurse provided by external partners at an estimated total cost of $241,000.

One Deputy District Attorney allocated to the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office at an estimated total cost of $157,000.

One Supervising Deputy Probation Officer and one Probation Officer provided by the Stanislaus County Probation Department at an estimated total cost of $274,000.

Staffing and funding for one data analyst will be determined.

One Social Worker Case Manager provided by the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency at an estimated total cost of $104,000.

A Mental Health Team comprised of two case managers and one Mental Health Clinician provided by the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department at an estimated total cost of $273,000.

One Public Defender provided by the Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office on a part-time basis at an estimated total cost of $66,000.

A placeholder of approximately $121,000, should resources not be available from any of the partner agencies to provide needed training, operating supplies, and/or emergency client support services that could include meals, clothing, temporary shelter, etc.

The City of Modesto will continue to support the HEART team by sustaining and adding public safety personnel. For the 18/19 budget, the city has added a dedicated crew who will come in after the MDT and HEART teams have delivered care in order to provide the necessary restorative clean-up work throughout impacted areas of the city.

Interim Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez is very encouraged by this process, stating, "This effort has proven to be a tremendously successful collaboration with the County. It's a unique program that seeks to help - not only our community who sees the effects of mental illness and homeless in their neighborhoods - but also the individuals who need additional support in connecting with the necessary services. The City has learned a lot in this process about the need that exists, and the services aimed at providing help."

In addition to the fiscal resources allocated, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in support of Senate Bill 1045 Conservatorship: Chronic Homelessness, Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders and issued a letter of support for this conservatorship bill requesting inclusion in the legislative language. As written, this bill proposes targeted treatment of homeless individuals who struggle with mental illness and substance abuse disorders, individuals that experience high-frequency emergency department use, high-frequency jail detention due to behavior resulting from serious mental illness and substance use disorders, etc. in San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties only.

The unofficial Election Day result may be viewed at the stanvote.com website and includes ballots voted at the polls and vote by mail (VBM) ballots received and processed as of last week.

Modesto, CA - June 7, 2018 Lee Lundrigan, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters / County Clerk / Recorder has released the daily Stanislaus County Elections Update.

Today the Elections Office continued with the canvass process of the Statewide Direct Primary Election. On Election Day Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Lee Lundrigan reported her office had counted 46,195 ballots for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election. The unofficial Election Day result may be viewed at the stanvote.com website and includes ballots voted at the polls and vote by mail (VBM) ballots received and processed as of last week.

Stanislaus voters received two ballot cards to contain all the races and propositions for this election. Together both cards create 'one' complete ballot. However, one voted ballot consisting of two ballot cards has doubled the amount of voting materials to prepare and count through the high speed scanners thus increasing the amount of work and time required to canvass the election.

checking the signature on each VBM envelope against the signature located on the original affidavit of registration;

signature verification:

sorting the VBM envelopes into one of the 327 precincts in which they would have voted had they not voted by mail;

opening and flattening 2 ballot cards for each of the 38,800 VBM ballots;

processing each of the VBM cards through the high speed ballot scanning equipment to tabulate them;

Today a random 1% of the precincts was selected to be manually tallied and balanced against the computer counts to verify the accuracy of the election tally system. This process is required by law. The office will begin work on the 1% hand tally of the vote next week.
The hand review of ballots to identify qualified write-in candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, United States Senator, State Senate Member District 12, State Assembly Member District 21 and Superintendent of Public Instruction is underway.
Certified write-in candidates include:

Governor

K. Pearce

Republican

Veronika Fimbres

Green

Armando M. Arreola

No Party Preference

Arman Soltani

No Party Preference

Peter Crawford Valentino

No Party Preference

Lieutenant Governor

Marjan S. Fariba

No Party Preference

Marjan S. Fariba

No Party Preference

United States Senator

Seelam Prabhakar Reddy

Democratic

Ursula M. Schilling

No Party Preference

Michael V. Ziesing

Green

State Senate - District 12

Dennis J. Brazil

Democratic

State Assembly - District 21

Justin Ryan Quigley

Libertarian

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Douglas I. Vigil

(Nonpartisan)

Thomas L. Williams

(Nonpartisan)

Approximately 3,000 provisional ballots require examination. This process will begin following the scanning and uploading of voter signatures located on the rosters from the 145 polling locations. These signatures and those on the VBM ballots must be
reviewed to determine who has voted prior to processing the provisionally voted ballots.

California law now extends the time period VBM ballots must be accepted beyond Election Day and will increase the number of ballots to be processed. Elections Code § 3020 ("Postmark Plus 3") extends the dates VBM ballots are timely received
from 8 p.m. on Election Day for three additional days. Nearly 3,600 of these timely mailed VBM ballots were received today and yesterday. They are included in the VBM count and must still be processed and counted.

California Election Code § 3019 now requires each Registrar of Voters (ROV) office to allow eight days after an election for voters who have not signed their VBM envelopes to come into the office to sign them or submit an Unsigned Ballot Envelope Statement. The election cannot be certified until this time limit is met. ROV Lee Lundrigan's office will contact each of these voters and advise them they have eight days, until Wed., June 13, 2018, to sign their envelopes. Over 348 of these unsigned ballot envelopes remain.

The canvass will continue until complete. The office will be closed Wed., July 4, 2018 in observance of the 4th of July and the canvass will re-commence on Thurs., July 5, 2018. California law requires certification of this election to be on or before Thurs., July 5, 2018, which is 30 days following Election Day.

This month the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors recognized a handful of senior citizens in our community who have done and continue to do great work in many areas of important service.

This month the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors recognized a handful of senior citizens in our community who have done and continue to do great work in many areas of important service.

We commend the following for their exemplary leadership and service throughout Stanislaus County.

Mr. Ernest Ray Richardson who served in the United States Air Force for 16 years, providing support during the Korean and Vietnam War eras and volunteered for the past 19 years, as a Board Member for the Central Valley Opportunity Center where he currently still volunteers as well as serving as a Board Member for the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Other involvements include the Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, the Modesto Airport Neighborhood and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to help senior taxpayers or those with special needs file tax returns. , Mr. Richardson is currently volunteering as a Board Member for the GRID Alternatives Central Valley. GRID offers energy technology and training to underserved communities, and provides hands-on experience in the solar industry and related fields. The program also coordinates with local high schools and many students volunteer to learn how to install solar panels.

Mr. Joe Madden is a Korean War Veteran who served in the United States Air Force. He voluntarily drove homebound Veterans to their medical appointments in Modesto and throughout the state using his personal vehicle and gasoline for over 5 years starting in 2008 helping Veterans in Stanislaus County who had no way of getting to their appointments. Most of these Veterans were frail and required assistance. Madden was appointed by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors as an At-Large Member of the Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission in 2012, and became the Chair of the Transportation Committee as soon as the Committee was created. He was dedicated and persistent in getting an established program in place and worked to get handicapped-accessible vans donated in 2014.

Ms. Sterling Fountain has been a member of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church for 43 years. She also has been an active volunteer with the King Kennedy Center Board of Directors and has served for 20 years with the Women’s Auxiliary, where she is a founding member. She served as a PTA member for Modesto City Schools for many years and served on the Modesto City School Board of Education’s Advisory Committee and as a Mentor for the Special Programs Department for Modesto Junior College. She volunteered as a Board Member with the Girl Scouts for 9 years and voluntarily provides transportation for disabled persons in her handicapped- equipped van. She served as United Way Campaign Coordinator for the Modesto Irrigation District for 6 years. In addition, she served as City of Modesto Affirmative Action Commissioner and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as Membership Chairman and Founder Advisor of Young Achievers.

Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Marsha Silveira have been active volunteers for over 28 years with the Society for disABILITIES, and have been instrumental in the Adaptive Winter Ski Program, helping with the Adaptive Bowling Program, with the Loan Closet Program making sure the durable medical equipment is clean, working, and ready to be loaned out. They assist with various fund raising activities and donate many hours hosting big events and helping with recreational, social, and educational programs. Mrs. Silveira was the Volunteer Coordinator of the Sign Language Club at Rose Avenue School in Modesto for 15 years. Marsha has been involved with the Ceres Rotary Club’s Read-a-Thon program and she is currently volunteering at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Oakdale with “Art Core," a special program for youth to enjoy art.

Ms. Delores Raymundo has been actively involved at Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Eucharist Ministry in Patterson and has served as a cook for the Church Homeless Minitsty for several years. Raymundo has been volunteering for over 10 years for the Congregate Senior Meals Program at the Hammon Senior Center, where she serves on the Board. She also helps with craft projects at the Center, supplying materials and teaching others how to make various items, along with making craft items and donating them to the Senior Center. Delores has voluntarily been providing transportation for over 10 years to those who need help getting to a medical appointment, getting groceries, etc. She donates baby hats/caps to the Turlock Pregnancy Center and makes tiny baby caps for the Preemie Ward in a San Francisco hospital. In addition, she makes and donates adult caps for the homeless people in Patterson.

We are thankful for these seniors and others in our community who show compassion, who serve the less fortunate and willingly shares their time, talent and treasure for the good of all residents.

April 26, 2018, Sacramento, CA – Today the California State Transportation Agency announced a series of grant awards under the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and selected the Valley Rail Project as a major awardee providing $500,500,000 to fund a series of new stations and track improvements to increase connectivity and frequency of service to the Sacramento region. The Valley Rail Project is a joint proposal by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to dramatically improve passenger rail service to the Sacramento region with both Amtrak San Joaquins and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service.

The Valley Rail project will implement a new transportation vision for serving the Sacramento region with integrated intercity and commuter rail service. The grant funds will help perform track improvements on the existing Union Pacific Railroad Sacramento subdivision freight corridor that runs just east of Interstate 5 to make it usable for passenger service, and build new shared San Joaquins and ACE stations in Lodi, Elk Grove, Sacramento City College, Sacramento Midtown, Old North Sacramento, and Natomas which will include a shuttle connection to the Sacramento International Airport.

“The Sacramento community is very excited about this project,” said Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Hansen. “Right now we have train tracks that run through midtown without providing any benefit to the local area. By building a new station in midtown we will now tap into that existing infrastructure, bringing customers to our local businesses, giving business travelers access to the Capitol without clogging up our roads, and providing new easy access for our local residents to reach key parts of the Bay Area or destinations throughout the Central Valley.”

“This TIRCP grant will revolutionize the way that the SJRRC can grow by adding new service that would now include Sacramento for ACE and adding additional trains for the Amtrak San Joaquins. The State of California recognizes the important part the SJRRC plays in connecting the Central Valley, Bay Area, and State Capital, and we are grateful for their support,” says Steve Dresser, Chair, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission

Additional new stations will also be constructed along the ACE and San Joaquins routes as a result of this award: on the San Joaquins line, new stations will be built in Madera and Oakley; on the ACE route, new stations will be built in Ceres, Modesto, Ripon, Manteca, and North Lathrop.

The TIRCP grant program receives significant funding from SB 1, the state’s gas tax program that provides critical resources to improve California’s highways and local streets, bridges, and transit systems – providing broad benefits to every community in California.

“This project would not be possible without SB 1,” said Vito Chiesa, Chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and Stanislaus County Supervisor. “With this funding, we will be able to move quickly in implementing an incredibly important transportation project that will better connect communities, improve mobility, reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support a good quality of life.”

The Valley Rail project is a transformational, megaregional initiative. Valley rail results in the initiation of San Jose bound commuter service from Sacramento using existing commuter rail equipment (expected by 2020). Four trains from Ceres are included in the proposal, with three heading up to Sacramento (with a transfer to San Jose in Lathrop) and one direct route to San Jose by no later than 2023. Feeder electric bus service will connect to Ceres from Merced. Valley Rail also adds two new San Joaquins round-trips between Fresno and Sacramento, on top of the two round-trips currently available. Total rail service between Stockton and Sacramento will be nine round-trips across all available routes and service providers, including one Sacramento to Stockton only round-trip.

The award also includes funds for ACE to procure zero emission buses to support feeder service between Merced and Ceres, and rolling stock for both corridors to support service increase. The grant is coordinated with 2016 TIRCP investments that are already being implemented in order to expand platforms to accommodate longer 10-car trains to add capacity on the four ACE round trips that currently cross the Altamont Pass.

“Improved passenger rail is an integral part of Sacramento and the Valley’s regional transportation network. It is essential to support travel and economic growth in this interconnected economy, and connect communities in ways that are convenient and sustainable,” said Chiesa.

Project Overview:

This week the County received the first installment of Measure L funds.

This week the County received the first installment of Measure L funds. The sales tax passed by voters in 2016 made clear that we have prioritized, "Local Roads First" in Stanislaus County. The check for over $4.5 million was received by an enthusiastic Board of Supervisors on April 17. Measure L, the 25-year, ½ cent sales tax to address road maintenance and renovation needs was seen overwhelmingly as a necessary step to improve road conditions locally. Revenues available to operate, maintain and improve our local transportation system have not kept up with the needs of our community and the Modesto-Metro area road conditions were in the top 20 worst in the nation when the tax measure passed. Many other counties in California have approved similar measures making us ‘Self-Help’ Counties. Not only are we better able to maintain and improve our roadways and transportation systems, we are also more successful in competing for funding and leveraging a larger share of state and federal dollars. Self-Help funds generated must stay local and can only be spent on transportation. Funds will be used for various projects which can be found here: Measure L website

Applying for assistance programs and brushing up skills to land the perfect job just got easier for residents

Applying for assistance programs and brushing up skills to land the perfect job just got easier for residents in southern Stanislaus County. The South County Service Center is now open for business. The building located at 1310 West Main Street in Turlock is a multi-agency facility and home to the Community Services Agency (CSA) and Workforce Development. At the new location, residents can apply for assistance programs that include Medi-Cal, CalWORKS and CalFresh. They can also receive job training and access to computer labs.

“Access and convenience for customers is important to us,” stated Kathryn M. Harwell, Director for the Community Services Agency. “The south side of the county is growing and we want to provide the best service possible.”

Community Services Agency(CSA) occupies the majority of the new building which includes office space for more than 100 employees, customer interview rooms, and conference rooms. The building will also serve as a training center for new staff to learn how to administer CSA programs. Prior to the new building construction, CSA had been housed at 101 Lander Avenue in Turlock, a location the agency outgrew.

The South County Service Center will also be home to other county and community partners including Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Learning Quest (Stanislaus Literacy Centers), Aspiranet, and Haven Women’s Center. This unique county and community partnership offers a "one stop shop," housing several agencies under one roof. The office is located in the new business park on West Main Street, centrally located in Turlock.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a $9 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program grant for State Road 132, the Gateway Express Project in Modesto. The grant was issued as a result of persistent support from U.S. Representative Jeff Denham. “At a time when we see increased congestion and travel times, this project will move trucks around the city and improve commute times on local roads,” said Rep. Denham. “Efficiently transporting our agricultural commodities from the Valley is critical to our economy, and this grant will get Valley goods to market faster while reducing traffic and improving the public safety of Modesto residents.” The $9 million grant will be used for the first phase of a newly-constructed, two-lane highway traveling east/west around Modesto. The Gateway Express Project will increase capacity by allowing trucks to avoid the most populous areas of the city. Approximately 8.2 million tons of freight per year, or 34,000 tons daily, are moved over SR-132 to and from the I-5 corridor. The project will allow for continued growth of Valley agricultural exports. Modesto was the only TIGER grant recipient in the state of California of the 41 total projects. “SR132 is our region’s number one transportation project. It is a key economic engine for region,” said Matt Machado, Stanislaus County Director of Public Works. “Local agencies partnering together is a successful combination! Thank you Congressman Denham for your unwavering support!”

A team from the County spent the morning reading to Beard Elementary School students

A team from the County spent the morning of March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, reading to Beard Elementary School students from kindergarten to fourth grade as part of the Read Across America program. Celebrating literacy and the importance of education is a top priority for the county as noted in our mission, vision and values, where "First-rate Learning" is named.

Volunteers throughout the nation participate in the Read Across America initiative created by the National Education Association. Fluent reading is an important factor for academic success and student achievement. The goal of the initiative is to create lifelong readers by highlighting the importance of books.Stanislaus County is proud to support efforts that lead to student success and we take every opportunity to impact the lives of local youth.

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." -Dr. Seuss

The REACT (Re-Entry and Enhanced Alternatives to Custody Training) Center

This innovative, programs-based detention facility is part of the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. The REACT (Re-Entry and Enhanced Alternatives to Custody Training) Center was built to provide transitional housing and program opportunities to incarcerated adults. This facility allows the County to close the antiquated downtown Men's Jail, with the exception of Court holding space.

In October 2013, Stanislaus County applied for $40 million in State funding through the Adult Local Criminal Justice Facilities Construction Financing Program under Senate Bill 1022 for this project. Stanislaus County was originally denied funding but appealed that decision and was granted full funding of $40 million in March 2014. The County-required match of $4.445 million brought the total project budget to $44,445,000. This project was completed on time and significantly under budget.

The REACT facility has 288 inmate beds which include four Transitional Housing Units at 48 beds each and three minimum Housing Units at 32 beds each...Providing more secure housing space for incarcerated persons, availability and access to education, counseling and viable programs are the key features of this new facility slated to open for public safety use in May. REACT is intended to reduce the tragic cycle of recidivism by closing the gaps between incarcerations and provide preparedness for release and overall rehabilitation.

Special thanks to the bridging architectural team of HOK and LDA Partners and constructed by the design-build team of Lionakis and Roebbelen contractors.

Municipal Advisory Council members were invited to attend training courses intended to build-up the knowledge and skills needed to be informed and effective community representatives.

Recently a group of Municipal Advisory Council members were invited to attend training courses intended to build-up the knowledge and skills needed to be informed and effective community representatives. Training topics included the Brown Act, Running a Public Meeting, the County budget as well as Land-use Planning, all led by the County. A discussion highlighting the twelve principals of civility was led by Stanislaus County Office of Education as part of its Choosing Civility initiative from a few years ago.

A group of over 40 dedicated citizens serve on Municipal Advisory Councils throughout our county representing their community to the Board of Supervisors. There are Councils for the unincorporated communities of Denair, Empire, Hickman, Keyes, Knights Ferry, Salida, South Modesto, Valley Home and Wood Colony. Members have two main priorities: Working with the County, offering the collective and overall views of the community and working with their represented community, sharing information about County proposals and providing a place where individuals can discuss community issues.

These trainings are the beginning of a more supportive and robust Municipal Advisory Council program in Stanislaus County. In addition to future trainings, webpages dedicated to each of the nine MACs are currently in development, and reference materials and guides will be created for council members to use with the goal of supplying our community leaders with the tools they need to bring positive change to their communities. For more information, email CavanahP@stancounty.com

Discussing topics ranging from the future of the County and the retirement system to the Focus on Prevention Initiative and the protection of our water supply. (Transcript)

Discussing topics ranging from the future of the County and the retirement system to the Focus on Prevention Initiative and the protection of our water supply, Supervisor Jim DeMartini, gave a heartfelt and thorough State of the County Address. (Transcript)

Updating a database this complex was like building a 10,000 piece puzzle according to Software Developer, Lisa Steed.

Stanislaus County has saved over $1,000,000 by completing a required update to the Oracle PeopleSoft application version 9.2 with a team composed entirely of county staff. Outside consultants were not hired to complete the project, which is typical for this level of technical work. Beginning in December 2016, county staff across multiple departments, including Auditor-Controller Payroll, Chief Executive Office, Human Resources, Risk Management, and Strategic Business Technology launched a system upgrade in order to bring the application to the required version by December 2017 in compliance with Oracle maintenance requirements and to avoid additional maintenance costs.

This is the second time county staff alone have upgraded Oracle PeopleSoft. In 2011 a similar upgrade to version 9.1 was performed. Without the use of consultants, the extensive upgrades were challenging but saved a combined estimated $1.6 to $2 million to the county. Throughout the duration of the project, payroll processing remained seamless. Special thanks to Lisa Steed, Senior Software Developer for her diligence and hard work on the project.

Stanislaus County Veterans Services and the Modesto Police Department Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART)

Stanislaus County Veterans Services and the Modesto Police Department Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) Unit have been working together on engagement and enforcement within the transient community. When Sgt. Hammond of Modesto Police began asking individuals if they were veterans, he was surprised at the number of homeless vets living on our streets. Statistics indicate that over 10% of homeless individuals are veterans.

Not long ago, Sgt. Hammond introduced Jose (Veterans Services staff) to a homeless veteran. Initially he was very upset, saying that he had asked for help more than two decades ago and the door was slammed in his face. Jose explained that he may be able to help, that he did not work for the VA, but for the County Veterans Services Office and asked this man to give us a chance to try to help him. Over several weeks, Jose met with him in the park. He helped order his discharge paperwork and military medical records and assisted with filing a claim for Veterans Pension.

Because he has no mailing address, Jose had all of the VA correspondence to this man sent to the Veterans Services Office so that he could track his claim status and upcoming appointments. Jose kept close contact with him, making sure that he kept his pension exam appointment and called the regional office to have an exam rescheduled that had been missed by accident. Jose waited at the Modesto VA clinic from 5:30 am once to make sure that our veteran was there in time to catch the bus to Livermore.

Just before Christmas, the County Office of Veterans Affairs received a check in the mail addressed to this gentleman. It was a sizable retroactive benefits check along with a letter explaining that he was awarded the maximum monthly pension. This is a life changing event for a man that has been living on the streets for years with no other source of income. Not only does this resident have a steady income now, but he is eligible for low income housing, can afford basic necessities of food and shelter but more importantly, he has a fresh start in life.

The first year results of the program have far exceeded department expectations.

Last year Stanislaus County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services began a one year pilot Crisis Intervention Program to focus on the needs of local children. The first year results of the program have far exceeded department expectations.

There were 192 children and youth averted from psychiatric hospitalization during the first year. On average, 16 children were seen monthly at the Children’s Crisis Intervention Program, and only 13 of the 192 total seen in the year required hospitalization within six months after receiving services. 179 children were successfully averted from subsequent hospitalization, a 93.2% success rate in the first year of the Crisis Intervention Program.

The success of this program has had a positive economic impact on the county budget. Had the 179 children and youth who successfully utilized services prevention/intervention services been hospitalized instead, it is estimated to have cost the county $1.2 million dollars (based on the average 5-6 day length of stay for children’s psychiatric hospitalization).

“We are very pleased to see such positive results from the initial launch of this program,” said Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director, Rick DeGette. “It’s encouraging to know that we are helping children stay healthy with preventative services and realizing enormous cost savings as well.”

Stanislaus County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services provides integrated mental health services to adults and older adults with a serious mental illness and to children and youth with a serious emotional disturbance. The department also provides outpatient and residential alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services and serves as Stanislaus County’s Public Guardian.

Westside residents of Stanislaus County got a look at the new West County Service Center in Patterson.

Westside residents of Stanislaus County got a look at the new West County Service Center in Patterson during an Open House on October 23, 2017.

The building at 101 W. Las Palmas Avenue is home to several county and non-profit agencies, all providing services under one roof. The idea is to make it easier for residents to access services through this unique county and community partnership.

“It’s important that residents on the Westside have a central place to go,” stated Kathy Harwell, Community Services Agency Director.

The building houses the Community Services Agency, the Health Services Agency, the Department of Workforce Development, Center for Human Services, and Learning Quest, a literacy program.

The Center outgrew its former Patterson location at 66 N. El Circulo Drive where space became limited as demand grew for more social, education, and workforce services. The old location had 2,000 square feet. The new facility will offer 15,300 square feet. Stanislaus County has a ten year lease on the property

At the new location, residents can apply for programs such as CalWORKS and Medi-Cal, receive Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services, and get help finding a job.

Throughout the tour, partner agencies were on hand to answer questions and provide tours of the new facility

Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services was recognized by the Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council receiving the Excellence Award for Outstanding Program. Baljit Atwal, department director, happily received the award on behalf of the Department of Child Support Services, sharing that in 2016, through new and innovative approaches, the department collected and distributed a record breaking $51,558,831 ($2.1 million increase from the prior year). This increase in collections is attributed to many focused efforts by dedicated employees serving families in the community. Efforts included involving increased outreach to customers, enhanced training for staff in customer service, and collaborations with county partners, both governmental and non-profit.

The Department of Child Support Services, in addition to collecting and distributing child support to families in the community, also establishes child support and medical orders, establishes paternity, and modify child support orders. For more information about SCDCSS services visit Child Support Services

POWER IN A MENTOR HOUR: County Youth Mentor Program Closes in on a Major Milestone.

Mentoring matters significantly when it comes to positive youth development, greatly impacting the lives of young people who are struggling in the classroom. Students can have a difficult time in school for any number of reasons ranging from home life struggles, lack of healthy relationships, self-esteem challenges, the basic need for dedicated time with a caring adult or other unique circumstances.

In 1999, County leadership launched the program as a means to address the high school dropout rate in our county, then among the highest in the state. We recognized that more could be done to help provide tools for our youth to succeed in Stanislaus county. During the cradle to career timespan, many of us fall off course and require the caring support of an adult to stay on track. The mentor program provides volunteers an opportunity to give back in a small way while fostering educational achievement in local youth.

This award winning project connects hundreds of County employees along with many other community partners with elementary schools across the county. Our team based approach allows mentors to form a team of up to three adults who pay regular visits to their students twice a week at lunch hour. The time commitment is minimal, while the impact lasts a lifetime for both mentor and mentee.

Getting registered as a mentor is simple. Mentors can start anytime during the school year following a simple application process and fingerprint appointment. Please consider mentoring and help contribute to the success of a local student. Find out more at www.employeementors.com

Jody Hayes was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanislaus County on August 12, 2017.

Jody Hayes was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanislaus County on August 12, 2017 following the retirement of Stan Risen who served as County CEO from 2013 - 2017. Mr. Hayes is assuming responsibility for the sound and effective management of approximately 4,400 employees, 27 departments, and a $1.1 billion budget.

Hayes began his career with Stanislaus County in 1999 in the Probation Department, human resources division. In 2004, he accepted a promotion to the Chief Executive Office as a Management Consultant and was appointed two years later to Deputy Executive Officer. During the next eight years of hard work and dedication he rose through the County ranks to become Assistant Executive Officer with overall responsibilities for the County’s budget and executive support for public safety and general government departments. After a nationwide recruitment, he was appointed as the new County Chief Executive Officer.

As CEO, Hayes is appointed by the Board of Supervisors with responsibilities for the overall direction and management of County resources, long-range organizational planning and the implementation of strategic goals and priorities as identified by the Board of Supervisors. Hayes has proven eager to engage with the community in this new role. “I am so honored to have the support of our Board of Supervisors in filling the role of Chief Executive Officer for the County,” Hayes said. “My pitch to the Board during the selection process was heavily weighted on my passion areas of community transformation and long-term vision for our future. I’m very excited to lead the organization through this next chapter on our journey of continuous improvement. Our future is very bright in Stanislaus County!”

Hayes is a proud graduate of the local education system, including Thomas Downey High School and Modesto Junior College. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly Pomona, and expanded his professional experience with key management roles in the manufacturing and hospitality industries prior to joining the County. Outside of the office, Hayes enjoys taking advantage of the many recreational opportunities available in the Modesto area with his wife Angela and children Sydney, Spencer and Aidan. In summarizing his appointment to Chief Executive Officer, Hayes is quick to point out his local roots and the long tradition of leadership throughout the County organization. “Stanislaus County is such a great place to work and to raise your family; it is a privilege to lead this organization and to dedicate my career to improving our community for many generations to come.”

The Modesto Library is hosting a viewing event to safely observe this amazing celestial phenomenon!

On August 21, 2017, from 9:02 - 11:40 am. there will be a total solar eclipse visible in a belt spanning all across the US. The exciting once-in-a-lifetime event is being called the Great American Eclipse because a Total Eclipse of the Sun that can be seen from the American West Coast to the American East Coast rarely occurs. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible from coast to coast was June 8, 1918. This is the first time since the total solar eclipse of January 11, 1880 that a total solar eclipse will occur exclusively over the continental United States. The Modesto Library is hosting a viewing event from 9:45 - 10:45 am. to safely observe this amazing celestial phenomenon! Stanislaus County has prepared a map that shows the procession of the eclipse customized for conditions in the County.

"It's been the greatest honor of my career to serve as your CEO." -Stan Risen August 11, 2017

Stan Risen became the Chief Executive Officer of Stanislaus County in 2013. He has led one of the largest employers in the region with over 4,400 employees, 27 departments and a $1.1 billion budget. Today is his final day as Stanislaus County CEO. He will be succeeded by Assistant Executive Officer, Jody Hayes.

Risen has been instrumental as a leader of the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office, having served with unsurpassed dedication and professionalism. His career focus has centered on a strong belief in the power of servant leadership. That was demonstrated in his desire to mentor and develop others and earned him a reputation for humility. “I'm not sure I ever really felt qualified for this job,” he told staff at a leadership meeting goodbye.

A commitment to giving back to the community through his dedicated service has been a hallmark of Risen’s career from his start as youth pastor to his service on Ceres City Council, Planning Commission, and Redevelopment Agency. He has always been a strong proponent of government accountability and efficiency, continuous performance improvement and forward motion as an organization.

He began his career in public service starting in the Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office in 1987 and was promoted to the Chief Executive Office in 1999 where he advanced to his appointment as CEO in November 2013.

As a visionary and inspirational leader for Focus on Prevention, a county-wide initiative striving to improve the quality of life for all Stanislaus County residents and families, Risen worked to align community members from ten different sectors around priorities such as homelessness, strengthening families, supporting youth, and reducing recidivism/reentry into criminal justice system. This ten-year initiative required coordination efforts that have broken down longtime silos across the county. "Giving 100% with all that he did, he gained trust and was greatly respected," according to Board Chair, Vito Chiesa. Risen's common sense approach to developing programs that address prevention rather than merely treating symptoms has garnered immense community support since the launch of the program in 2015.

His passion for collaboration and relationship building brought together community sectors including non-profits, health, education, faith, neighborhoods, media, arts, government, and business. His spirit of community collaboration has been commended by many. “The way you have led this county, broken walls down and found solutions has helped us build great relationships,” said Supervisor Terry Withrow.

Stan enjoys outdoor life and maintains a strong focus on faith and family. He has been married to his wife Cheryl for 38 years, has four children and four grandchildren and is an active member of Crosspoint Community Church in Modesto, CA.

A new Outreach and Engagement Center in Modesto will coordinate the provision of services for those in our community struggling with homelessness

Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention collaborative welcomed a diverse and committed turnout of community members, nonprofit administrators, local government leadership and elected officials on August 1, to celebrate the opening of Modesto's new Outreach and Engagement Center, located at 825 12th Street. Assemblyman Adam Gray, Congressman Jeff Denham, and a host of other local officials acknowledged the need for homeless services and greater access, commending the efforts that went into the Outreach Center opening.

The new Outreach and Engagement Center will coordinate the provision of multiple services for those in our community struggling with homelessness. Initially staff from the County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department, Community Services Agency, Homeless Court Program and Chief Executive Office will be housed at the Center. By this fall 2017 offerings will expand to include a Housing Assessment Team and other co-located homelessness service providers and community partners. This development allows the community to bring services directly to people experiencing homelessness who otherwise might not seek out help, and connect them to housing and necessary support.

Supervisor Terry Withrow, of the County's Stewardship Council said, “The opening of the Outreach and Engagement Center for the homeless in our community was the result of thousands of hours of work, and hundreds of dedicated and caring individuals in our county collaborating to make this a better place for all of us to live. It is only the tip of the iceberg as we watch many more great things come out of the Focus on Prevention Movement in Stanislaus County ”

Excellence in Financial reporting was awarded to Auditor-Controller's office

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Stanislaus County by Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Receiving this award is a notable achievement and is the second year in a row the award has been received by Stanislaus County. The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program which includes clearly communicating its financial story.

“I am honored to receive the award for the second year in a row,” stated Lauren Klein, the Auditor-Controller for Stanislaus County. “Providing an accurate financial report is extremely important to the public to assure the reporting of public funds complies with national standards and requirements. Additionally, providing accurate financial information is crucial for management decisions.”

Stanislaus County has received the prestigious GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award represents a significant achievement by the organization and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

The award is the 14th in a row received by Stanislaus County. In order to receive the award, the County has to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The County’s detailed budget document was reviewed by a national team of financial professionals for quality, completeness and the ability to meet the stringent criteria created by the national association.

“We are thrilled to once again be selected to receive this award,” stated Jody Hayes, the assistant executive officer for Stanislaus County. “The County spends a tremendous amount of time and resources to create a transparent and complete budget document the public can use to understand County finances and how funds are budgeted. This is a great honor.”

Keep an eye out on your voter approved taxt dollars for road improvements

Measure L is the Transportation Ordinance and Expenditure Plan approved by Stanislaus County voters on November 8, 2016. The measure raises the sales tax in Stanislaus County by one-half cent for a total period of 25 years to improve our local streets and roads, improve connectivity and reduce congestion. This money is administered by the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) and pays for specific voter-approved transportation projects for local street and road improvements, and regional projects and transit programs specified in the Plan.

Measure L calls for an independent Citizens Oversight Committee to oversee compliance with the Ordinance as specified in the Transportation Ordinance and Plan.

The responsibilities of the 10-member Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee are to:

Ensure all transportation revenue collected from Measure L is spent in accordance with the Measure L Ordinance and Expenditure Plan;

Hold public meetings as necessary regarding the expenditure and status of funds generated by Measure L;

Review independent audits of the expenditure of tax funds and implementation of the programs and projects in the Expenditure Plan; and

Issue an annual report on its findings regarding compliance with the requirements of the Expenditure Plan and the Ordinance to the StanCOG Board.

Staff from four counties converge at historic survey marker for the first time since 1868

In 1868 the County Surveyors of Alameda, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties conducted a boundary survey to establish the county lines between the respective counties. An oak tree was selected on Mount Boardman, as the convergence point of these three counties along with the County of Santa Clara.

Approximately 148 years later, Chad Johnson and Larry Fontana from Stanislaus County Public Works had the opportunity to revisit the oak tree “County Corner” with the County Surveyors of Alameda, Santa Clara and San Joaquin. The group consisted of Michael Rubner, County Surveyor for Alameda County, Bill Slepnikoff, County Surveyor and his assistant Chris Wilson from Santa Clara County, Warren Smith County Surveyor from San Joaquin County, the retired Santa Clara County Surveyor Gwen Gee, and Mike Quartaroli with Quartaroli & Associates Inc.

This location was last visited by Stanislaus County Surveyor George Macomber in 1931. He set 1½ iron pipes as 20' witness corners (point marked by a monument) in the four cardinal directions; north, south, east, and west.

The tree is located on the property owned by N3 Cattle Company LLC. Contact was made with their ranch manager who provided access through the locked gates and acted as a guide up the hill. With a little searching, the oak tree was located - still alive - as well as the witness corners set by Macomber. They were able to occupy the witness corners with GPS units to determine coordinates and perform some old fashion chaining between the points on the ground to verify distances. The data collected will be shared by the four counties to improve all of our GIS platforms.

The Corridor Plan is intended to support Stanislaus County's transportation and economic development vision and general plan policies as they relate to the southwest County between Patterson and Newman.

Stanislaus County proposes the Crows Landing Corridor Plan (Plan), which is needed to determine the feasibility of inter-jurisdictional transportation connectivity improvements along the Crows Landing Road corridor between Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route (SR) 99 (planning area). The Plan area includes Fink Road from SR 33 to I-5. The Plan is needed to support and improve the mobility of goods and people to and from the proposed Crows Landing Logistics Center (formerly a naval air station) in southwestern Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved to proclaim the existence of a local emergency due to flooding in various locations in Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is continuing to monitor all of the rivers and creeks in Stanislaus County. OES is in daily contact with the National Weather Service and Turlock Irrigation District to stay informed of current and expected conditions.

To sign up for emergency notification from Stanislaus OES please register at www.stanaware.com

Further information on flood conditions is available at the following sites:

San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry to be topic of discussion for planned improvements

Members of the public are invited to a Public Information Meeting on January 26, 2017, to visit exhibits and discuss the retrofit planned for the San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry (River Road) with members of the Stanislaus County Public Works Department and other members of the project team.

The meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2017, at the City of Newman Community Meeting Room, 1200 Main Street, Newman, CA. A brief presentation will be made at 6:30 p.m. to explain the project history, what studies are under way, and additional tasks that must be completed before construction begins.

The bridge was constructed in the 1960s and is travelled by thousands of vehicles daily.

For more information, members of the public are welcome to call the Project Hotline at (209) 464-4350, Extension 1, or send email to Hotline@buethepr.com. They are also welcome to mail written comments and inquiries about the project to Public Outreach Coordinator, San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry, P.O. Box 4436, Stockton, CA 95204.

Valentine's Day ceremonies at the romantic site of the historic McHenry Mansion in Modesto

Stanislaus County Clerk / Commissioner of Civil Marriages, Lee Lundrigan invites engaged couples to be married on Valentine's Day at the McHenry Mansion in Modesto. “Marriage at the Mansion” offers each couple a romantic experience.

Ceremonies start at 9 a.m. and run through 4 p.m., on Tues., Feb. 14, 2017. Marriage licenses must be purchased and appointments made in advance at the County Clerk's Office located at 1021 “I” Street, Modesto. Cost of the license and ceremony is $121 or $126 for confidential marriage licenses.

“Romantic couples planning to tie the knot in 2017 should reserve their Valentine's Day wedding without delay,” stated Lundrigan. “The non-religious civil ceremonies will be conducted in English or Spanish. Guests are limited to 15 for each wedding and children must be age 12 or older to attend.

For more information contact the County Clerk Office at 209-525-5250 or call 209-525-5230 for assistance in Spanish.

District Attorney Victim Services event was for friends and family to honor victims of violent crime

Holidays can be a very difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones to violent crime. The Victims Candlelight Vigil is held annually on the Stanislaus Superior Courthouse lawn as a way to remember loved ones and to honor their memory.

This year's 19th annual event featured a lighting of the victims' memorial tree and a candlelight vigil. Attendees were encouraged to bring a non-breakable ornament to hang on the tree as a remembrance of their loved one during the holiday season.

“Friends and family of homicide victims often feel alone in their grief which can be especially painful during the holiday season when there is such an emphasis on joy and spending time together," stated Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager. “The Candlelight Vigil is an important opportunity for them come together and share memories in a warm and supportive setting that specifically recognizes victims of homicide.”

An estimated 500 people attended the ceremony where a special video was played with photos and names of homicide and vehicular manslaughter victims provided by families. The event featured several guest speakers including District Attorney Birgit Fladager, Sheriff Adam Christianson, Annette Ramirez (family member of a victim), Erin Nelson (the executive director of Jessica's House), and Cheryl Titus who is the victim services program coordinator for the District Attorney's office.

Youth Services Outreach Librarian Olga Cardenas has been recognized by the American Library Association

Youth Services Outreach Librarian Olga Cardenas has been recognized by the American Library Association with a 2016 I Love My Librarian Award. She is one of only 10 librarians in the country to receive this national honor. Cardenas is recognized for her exceptional contributions to the community and ongoing commitment to transforming lives through education and lifelong learning.

Cardenas is commended for reaching beyond the walls of the library to deliver valuable library programs and services to underserved residents. As youth services outreach librarian, a position created less than 18 months ago, Cardenas has bridged barriers for families by engaging with parents in English and Spanish where they live, work, and pray. This innovative approach to family engagement is highly effective, leading to new partnerships between the library and businesses, service organizations, and schools.

With her visits to Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Commitment Center, Cardenas connects with incarcerated youth through her passion for books and reading. She has visited agricultural and industrial workplaces, apartment complexes, and community events, distributing free books, issuing library cards and offering tips on how to incorporate reading into daily life. Through a twice weekly Pop-Up Library at the county's Women Infants and Children nutrition program, she offers library services right at the WIC office, and shares techniques parents can use to enhance their children's early learning and development.

Cardenas has worked at the Stanislaus County Library for more than 10 years, having held various positions at the Patterson, Turlock, Oakdale, and Modesto Libraries. The Friends of the Modesto Library nominated her for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award because of her demonstrated commitment to sharing the love of reading and lifelong learning.

Local technical experts meet with State Water Board staff to examine water policy details

In September 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board released their updated Substitute Environmental Document (SED) unleashing a firestorm of criticism from the public, agencies and officials. The document references significant recommended changes to San Joaquin River flow which also impacts the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers in Stanislaus County. The document also appears to significantly underestimate the economic damage that could be caused by the proposed changes.

Stanislaus County representatives recently hosted experts from the State Water Resources Control Board for a technical discussion and to ask questions about the SED. Questions centered around groundwater, drinking water as well as the economic impacts.

The State Water Resources Control Board will hold a public hearing on the SED in Modesto on December 20 at 9 a.m. at the Modesto Centre Plaza in the Tuolumne River Room on 1000 K Street and the public is encouraged to attend and give comments.

Stanislaus County awarded second in the United States for website redesign project

The Center for Digital Government has just announced the winners of the national 2016 Best of the Web Awards and the Stanislaus County website StanCounty.com was awarded second place for County Portals. The award honors city, county, and state innovative and citizen-centric web sites for their work to engage citizens online.

“We're thankful and excited that our County has been recognized for this award,” stated Mike Baliel, IT Applications Manager. “It is a visual testament to the hard work, strong partnerships and collaborative nature of our County employees and departments.”

Stanislaus County had recently completed a website re-design approximately six months before applying for the award. The re-design was done almost exclusively using county staff, with approximately $3,000 spent on outside services. The project could have cost up to $200,000 if contracted to outside vendors.

The county finished behind Baltimore County, Maryland, but ahead of San Francisco and San Diego counties.

Veterans Day celebration features special hard hat tours of remodeled site

A Veterans Day celebration showcased the new Stanislaus Veterans Center under development in north Modesto. The center is located in the Sylvan Square shopping center and is an extensive remodel of an existing property.

The Stanislaus Veterans Center is a unique public/private partnership that could be the only veterans one-stop facility of its kind in the nation. It will be housed in a 37,500 square foot property that will hold a 315-seat banquet hall for events, a full-service kitchen, conference rooms and offices for service organizations.

“We are delighted this plan is coming together,” stated Patty Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “It is an honor to work with the City of Modesto, our Veterans Advisory Commission, the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County, local veterans organizations and all of our partners to make this project a reality.”

The cost of the facility will be shared by the County, the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County and is a 10-year lease with Stone Brothers. It is scheduled to open in late January 2017.

World class Carnegie Arts Center rose up from a devastating fire to its new brilliance

In celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, the Board of Supervisors received a report from Lisa McDermott, Director of the Carnegie Arts Center.

The Center has numerous events and activities scheduled throughout the year for people of all ages. Tens of thousands of people have attended events from art exhibitions, classes, tours, Family Fridays, field trips and much more. The Center features visual arts, music, dance, theatre, film, poetry and literature, architecture and more.

“You are filling a huge void – not just for Turlock, but for the whole community,” stated Vito Chiesa, Supervisor for Stanislaus County District 2. “It is a great venue. If you haven't had the chance, please get down there and let's help it thrive even more.”

For more information on the Carnegie Arts Center, you can call (209) 632-5761.

Award winning environmental documentary to be presented at State Theatre in celebration.

November 15 is national America Recycles Day and the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources is partnering with the City of Modesto's Solid Waste Division, B green with Boyett Petroleum and the State Theatre in hosting an America Recycles Day event on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Historic State Theatre at 1307 J Street, Downtown Modesto.

The organizations will be holding free showings of the award winning environmental film Racing to Zero at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The film takes a look at trash as a valuable resource and offers alternatives for recycling instead of disposal. In addition, the public will have an opportunity to meet the movie producers, Diana Fuller and Christopher Beaver to ask questions and make comments about the documentary filmed in the City of San Francisco.

“America Recycles Day”, a campaign instituted by the National Recycling Coalition, is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Since its inception in 1997, the America Recycles Day campaign has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work, and to buy products made with recycled materials. Residents in every State of the nation participate in America Recycles Day events. Held annually on November 15, millions of people become better informed as a result of the national America Recycles Day campaign.

Second Chance Week is a national public awareness campaign to promote the use of specific recycled items under the motto “Reuse, Repair, Resale and Donate”.

Second Chance Week is a national public awareness campaign to promote the use of specific recycled items under the motto “Reuse, Repair, Resale and Donate”.

This year Stanislaus County, in partnership with the City of Modesto and Vintage Faire Mall, will be collecting new and gently used baby clothes. All the items collected will be distributed through five local nonprofit agencies, Center for Human Services, Modesto Pregnancy Center, Salvation Army, Cal Safe and the Modesto Gospel Mission, who will give them to residents and families in need throughout our community.

Please take the time to gather your donations and bring to any one of our many collection sites located in Stanislaus County and Modesto. Your contributions can truly make the difference and we look forward to providing much needed necessities for our babies and children. Look for donation bins at 1010 10th Street in downtown Modesto, Vintage Faire Mall, City and County Libraries, Modesto Police Station and Modesto Fire Stations.

For more information in Stanislaus County, please contact Environmental Resources at (209) 525-6700 or email Denise London at dlondon@envres.org or Janice McClendon at jmcclendon@envres.org. For more information in the City of Modesto, please contact the Solid Waste Division at (209) 577-5495 or email Vicki Rice at vrice@modestogov.com.

Food, music and fun to highlight upcoming lunchtime celebration in downtown Modesto

Food, entertainment and fun are all part of the upcoming 12th Annual Cultural Diversity Celebration in downtown Modesto.

Whether you are looking for mouth-watering treats with an international flair or just want to learn more about the cultural diversity of the community, this event is for you.

“It is our pleasure and commitment to uphold a community where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted,” stated Tamara Thomas, Interim Human Resources Director for Stanislaus County. “There is a tremendous amount we can learn from one another when we celebrate our heritage.”

The event is open to the community and will take place in Modesto at 1010 10th Street Place in the courtyard on Wednesday October 5, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

County officials sign and release the updated Assessment Roll figures for Stanislaus County

On June 30, 2016, Lauren Klein, County Auditor Controller, accepted and signed for the 2016/17 Assessment Roll figures from Don H. Gaekle, County Assessor. The Property Tax cycle involves the Assessor's, the Auditor-Controller's and the Treasurer/Tax Collector's offices to produce and account for your property tax bill and payment.

The Assessor follows applicable State laws to establish the assessed value of all property in Stanislaus County. The Auditor Controller uses the certified assessed values produced by the Assessor to develop voter approved debt service tax rates (such as school bonds). A total tax rate of 1% plus voter approved debt tax rate is calculated for each property. The total tax is applied to the assessed value of that property and any voter approved direct assessments are added to compute the tax amount due. The Treasurer/Tax Collector bills and collects tax payments. The Auditor-Controller later allocates the collected revenue to local taxing agencies, including the County, cities, schools and special districts.

“Our office is committed to serving our customers by processing, safeguarding, and providing information regarding the finances and public records of the County” stated Lauren Klein, Stanislaus County Auditor Controller.

Proving once again that the County displays a true team environment, it is pertinent that every County office diligently completes their responsibilities accurately in order for our community to be served with transparency.

$42 million construction project opening to the public marked by ribbon cutting celebration

The new Kiernan Interchange in Salida has been officially opened and traffic is flowing smoothly after a massive three-year construction effort.

More than 250,000 vehicles pass through the Kiernan Interchange each day and the construction project will help to alleviate current and future traffic demands.

“This project is not only an example of how desperately we need funding to improve our local roads, but it is a shining example of how we can successfully deliver these types of projects when funding is available,” stated Stanislaus County District Three Supervisor Terry Withrow.

Stanislaus County and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) reconstructed the interchange in an effective partnership that will benefit the community for years to come.

Local foundation creates video highlighting changes taking place in local community

The non-profit Stanislaus Community Foundation teamed up with local artists to produce a video as a love letter to the people of Stanislaus County. Representatives of the Foundation presented the video at the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in May.

Craig Lewis, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation stated “we have felt that it is time to change the perception that we have of ourselves, let alone from the outside world.”

The video titled “A Love Letter to Stanislaus County” opens with stark and stereotypical imagery about the County including smokestacks, junk cars and graffiti, as set along Highway 99. The video then moves past the stale stereotypes by showing the multitude of amazing elements of life in Stanislaus County and the people who make it special.

Dozens of upgraded campsites coming online for public enjoyment after major renovation

The Department of Parks and Recreation is happy to announce the Grand Re-Opening of Woodward Reservoir's Muir Point, T-Island and Hackberry Full Hookup Campgrounds in May 2016.

“This renovation supports Woodward Reservoir's mission of developing and maintaining recreation areas serving every segment of society,” said Jami Aggers, the Director of Stanislaus County Parks and Recreation.

The $3.4 million project upgraded (61) campsites at T-Island and Muir Point from water only to “full hook-up” sites that include sewer and electrical. Roads were re-paved, campsites were improved and RV parking pads renovated.

“The outdoors at Woodward Reservoir is a local treasure,” Aggers said. “We have created a space for families and friends to come and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Woodward Reservoir is located at 14528 26 Mile Road in Oakdale and is a great place to spend the day, camp overnight, swim, boat, roast hotdogs, and make memories. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/Woodwardres

Love Modesto volunteers love on animals at the Shelter and help at Earth Day event

April 23, 2016 was a very busy day with events for Animal Services with participation in Love Modesto and Earth Day.

Love Modesto volunteers went to the Shelter and gave baths to adoptable dogs and assisted regular volunteers in caring for other animals. At the Earth Day event, Love Modesto participants helped showcase the six adoptable dogs that staff had brought. They did such a fabulous job that three of the six dogs were adopted.

“What a wonderful community we live in,” stated Connie Hooker, Animal Services Operations Supervisor. “So many people came out not only to show their love for Modesto, but to help the animals get forever homes.”

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency can always use wonderful volunteers to help year-round. If you are interested, please go to 3647 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, to pick a volunteer application packet.

What people registered as No-Party Preference need to know before going to the polls

To vote for the candidate you want, be aware of crossover voting!

Presidential Primaries are unique. Political parties decide whether voters registered as No-Party Preference can "crossover" and vote for one of their candidates. For the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary, the American Independent*, Democratic and Libertarian parties allow “crossover” voting. *American Independent is a political party, not the same as being registered No-Party Preference.

Poll voters registered as No-Party Preference need to request a "crossover" ballot upon checking-in at their polling location. Choosing a “crossover” ballot will not change your registered party preference.

Voters registered as No-Party Preference who want to vote for a Republican, Green, or Peace & Freedom Presidential candidate must re-register to vote for one of those respective parties by May 23, 2016.

Shelter dogs are walked by members of the public in an effort to promote animal adoption

Staff from the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency participated in the Family and Paws Walk for Clean Water as part of Earth month.

“The event was a great opportunity to showcase our dogs available for adoption,” stated Annette Patton, Executive Director of the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency.

Dogs from the shelter wore colorful “Adopt Me Now” vests. According to Kathy Fielder from the Agency, “many people asked to walk the dogs brought to the event, and we are hopeful they come and adopt their next forever friend from the shelter.”

The center will bring together meeting rooms, facilities and services into one convenient location

The Board of Supervisors voted to approve a 10-year lease agreement for a new veterans one-stop center at the intersection of Coffee Road and Sylvan in Modesto.

Called the Stanislaus Veterans Center, it will be housed in a 37,500 square foot property at Sylvan Square in north Modesto. The facility will hold a 315-seat banquet hall for events, full-service kitchen, conference rooms and offices for service organizations.

“We are delighted this plan is coming together,” stated Patty Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “It is an honor to work with our Veterans Advisory Commission, local veterans organizations and all of our partners to make this project a reality. Today, we're one step closer.”

The cost of the facility will be shared by the County, the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County. It is scheduled to open in November 2016.

Prestigious national GFOA award highlights outstanding financial reporting for County

The Auditor-Controller's Office received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

“The GFOA award represents the work of dedicated staff with a determination to exceed expectations,” stated Assistant Auditor-Controller Kashmir Gill. “The staff optimized the use of technology to produce a comprehensive financial report in a timely manner.”

During fiscal year 2014-2015, the Annual Financial Report was converted to a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and submitted for GFOA certification. The last time Stanislaus County received the award was in 2002.

The primary goal of the CAFR is to provide financial data to assess the fiscal position of the County. The information is based on generally accepted accounting principles. You can read the complete report here: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Info for veterans on benefits, healthcare, housing, education, employment and more

Stanislaus County's Modesto Library hosted a grand opening celebration of its Veterans Resource Center on Monday, April 4. The event featured a performance by members of the Johansen High School Band, the presenting of the colors by cadets from the Stanislaus Military Academy, and local officials.

The Veterans Resource Center offers books, DVDs and pamphlets on topics such as state and federal benefits for veterans, healthcare, housing, education and employment. A dedicated computer is also available for veterans to access information online.

“Making benefits information and assistance available in our local library is a great way to reach our veterans close to where they live and work,” said Stanislaus County Library Director Diane McDonnell.

The Modesto Library is one of 38 public libraries offering a Veterans Resource Center through the State Library and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

US Attorney's Office recognizes local District Attorney staff for outstanding work

The United States Attorney's Office has awarded the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office with the Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award for the Eastern District of California. The award is in recognition of outstanding work on a federal racketeering case associated with a criminal prison gang and the work of a mortgage fraud task force.

“The investigators with the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office deserve particular recognition for their skill, diligence, and spirit of cooperation,” U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.

Lt. Froilan Mariscal and Investigator Glenn Gulley were recognized for their efforts. Mariscal head up a federal task force investigation of the Nuestra Familia prison gang, resulting in a 20-year prison term for the lead defendant. Gulley participated on the FBI mortgage fraud task force and was instrumental in building the case against Xue Heu, who posed as a government official and fraudulently sold properties.

“Serving crime victims and holding criminals accountable can best be done when working together,” stated Birgit Fladager, District Attorney for Stanislaus County.

County to offer opportunity to dispose of used tires in an environmentally friendly way

In California, there are more than 44 million reusable and waste tires generated each year and they all have to go somewhere. They used to all clog up the waste stream.

California passed the Tire Recycling Act in 1989, which has increased the number of waste tires diverted from the landfills and sent to tire recycling centers by turning them to beneficial uses. For 2014, CalRecycle estimated almost 86% of California waste tires are now recycled.

You have the opportunity to think green and recycle.

The Department of Environmental Resources, Solid Waste Division is having a Waste Tire Recycling Voucher Program Event, April 16th-30th. This event is for Stanislaus County Unincorporated Residents. The voucher allows you to take up to 9 waste tires to your garbage hauler for free disposal. This event is NOT for businesses and only passenger car and truck tires will be accepted.

Call (209) 525-6791 or walk into the Department of Environmental Resources at 3800 Cornucopia Way Suite C, Modesto to obtain a voucher.

Weights and Measures staff make sure you're getting a straight deal from businesses

John Adams signed the first U.S. weights and measures law on March 2, 1799. Fast forward to today, where we celebrate March 1-7 as Weights and Measures Week.

Weights and measures officials operate in today's marketplace to protect consumers and provide fair competition among businesses by ensuring that commercial transactions based on weight, measure, or count are conducted according to established laws and regulations.

Stanislaus County inspectors test over 9,000 devices annually including livestock scales, gasoline pumps, propane trucks, taximeters, and utility sub-meters to name just a few. Inspectors also check signage, advertising and price computations in all types of businesses to make sure consumers are not misled or cheated.

The daily contributions of the weights and measures inspector go largely unnoticed, and so it is this week that we celebrate their efforts.

Music and literature are coming alive for children in this unique Library partnership

Children and families gathered at the Modesto Library on Monday, Jan. 11 for Musical Mondays, a program created in partnership with the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Musical Mondays combines music and stories into a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

Library storyteller Amber O'Brien-VerHulst presented The Gunniwolf by Wilhemina Harper, while harpist Brooke Cannedy enhanced the story with musical accompaniment. Following the story, children explored MSYO's Instrument Petting Zoo, learning about a variety of instruments in a hands-on environment. Children also had an opportunity to craft paper bag Gunniwolves and tissue paper flowers.

“We really enjoy other library storytelling programs but the combination of stories and music together brings new life to the story and gives voice to the instruments,” said parent Rachel Roseman.

Musical Mondays is a free program held at the Modesto Library. The last performance of the season will be held on Feb. 22 at 6:15 p.m.

A colorful new pop-up library project is reaching many new people with the power of reading

Last July, the Stanislaus County Library was awarded a grant to establish a pop-up library at the County's Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) Office in Modesto. Bilingual library staff visit the WIC office for two hours, two days per week, where they read to children (individually or in small groups). They also demonstrate for parents the importance of reading aloud to young children, issue library cards, and check out materials from a targeted collection of children's and parenting books.

“We hope parents will be inspired to read aloud to their children daily and make visits to the library a regular practice,” said Olga Cardenas, children's outreach librarian.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, portable bookshelves and a supply cart/checkout station are wheeled into one of the waiting rooms at the WIC office. A double-sided display unit, stocked with colorful children's books, is set up in the center of the room, and children who are eager to explore are instantly engaged with books and reading. Parents are showing interest too, with 136 new library cards issued and 798 books checked out in just the first five months. This is the result of a great collaborative effort between two County departments.

The WIC Pop-Up Library is a project supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Children and adults had an exciting evening of celebrating the County's student mentor program

The Stanislaus County Employee Mentor Program provides the opportunity for County employees and community partners to engage in youth mentoring with students in grades 2 - 6.

Recently, the program celebrated 17 years of service in a fun, community-filled event that hosted over 200 attendees - including student proteges, parents, teachers and administrators, County leadership and employee mentors.

“It is just wonderful to see so many children and parents coming together to celebrate this powerful act of giving back,” stated program founder and County Assistant Executive Officer Keith Boggs.

The program has 123 mentors at six school sites using seven community and educational partners and is hitting full stride rolling into its 18th year.

For more information how YOU can become a mentor to a young person - please call 209.652.1514 for more information or visit our website at: www.employeementors.com

The holiday season can be filled with joy, but it can also be a time of real struggle for many.

The holiday season and family gatherings can be the most memorable and happiest times in life. But for some people, they can also be a time of stress and depression.

A loss of a loved one, scattered families, and money issues can contribute to mental health issues. However, being realistic, planning ahead, and seeking support can help. Here are some simple tips to help you or someone you know during this holiday season.

Acknowledge your feelings. If you've had a loss, it's normal to feel sadness and grief.

Reach out. Seek out events where you can connect with others. Consider volunteering.

Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect and traditions can change as well.

Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are.

These are only a few tips for keeping yourself feeling good through the season. So be patient with yourself, get professional help if needed, talk to others, and take a breather to refresh and refocus.

Staff gathered Christmas gifts to support clients from the Stanislaus Family Justice Center.

Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Beth DeJong and Chief Deputy Doug Raynaud enjoy standing amongst the gifts donated by members of the District Attorney Staff so that a family in need may still enjoy a Christmas.

“Such generosity shown by our office really puts everyone in the true spirit of giving during the holidays,” said Ms. DeJong, who helped coordinate the donation effort.

The project was a partnership with the Stanislaus Family Justice Center. The organization provided tags indicating what gifts were needed for each family and the D.A. employees eagerly provided the rest.

This is the second family adopted by District Attorney Staff this season.

See what diseases are hitting our community and how many cases there are.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency released statistics for the reportable diseases for the first quarter of 2015. This is for the January 1 - March 28 time period.

The State of California mandates all health care providers to report any specified diseases and conditions mandated by State law to the local health department.

To minimize the report size, if there is not an instance of one of the mandated reportable diseases within the past five years, it is not included in the community report. In the event a disease returns, it will again be included in the report.

To see the detailed report on diseases and conditions in Stanislaus you can link here.

Getting quick and accurate information to the public in emergencies was a recent training focus.

The recent tragedy in San Bernadino County is a reminder of how quickly a community can be impacted in a crisis.

Stanislaus County has a team of Public information Officers from government, non-profit and private organizations who meet and train together to be ready when crisis strikes.

The team recently came together to receive local updates and to also conduct a live Skype webinar with the Communications Director for Aurora, Colorado who led their response during the Century 16 theater shooting. Sadly, this pre-scheduled webinar was occurring at the exact same time the shooting incident in southern California was just starting to unfold.

The focus of the group is to effectively work with the County's Office of Emergency Service in getting accurate and timely information to the public in emergency situations.

20 Library volunteers hand-deliver materials to home bound County residents every month.

Stanislaus County Library's Home Delivery Service is making a difference to homebound residents of Stanislaus County. Each month, trained volunteers deliver library materials to community members who cannot physically visit the library due to advanced age, illness, or disability.

This free program is staffed by 20 dedicated volunteers who deliver library materials to more than 80 people in homes and assisted living facilities. Home Delivery Service volunteers also provide invaluable social interactions for the Stanislaus County residents they serve.

“I always think: what if I was not able to obtain books? How sad and small my life would be,” said Rhoda Yare, who has enjoyed volunteering for more than 10 years. “These are readers, and bringing them what they love gives me so much joy. I wish you could see how happy a stack of books placed in their hands makes them.”

Those interested in joining this important group of caring volunteers are asked to call (209) 558–7817.

The holiday season is prime time as online scammers are looking to take your money.

Avoid being a victim this holiday season by taking precautions when browsing and shopping online.

"No one wants to be a victim of online crime, but scammers are getting more and more sophisticated," stated Marcia Cunningham, Director of Strategic Business Technology for Stanislaus County. "The more you know about what they are trying, the better prepared you will be."

E-cards from unknown senders may contain malicious links and fake online advertisements or shipping notifications may deliver infected attachments. E-mail messages that are spoofed (e-mail crafted to look it is from a known sender, but is not) and fraudulent posts on social networking sites may request support for phony causes.

Cunningham stated there are a number of things people can do to protect themselves.

Avoid following unsolicited links or downloading attachments from unknown sources

Check your credit card statement routinely

Log on directly to the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail

If you are requested to act quickly or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

If you believe you are a victim of a holiday phishing scam or malware campaign, consider the following actions:

Foster youth center to make a big impact through life skills, education and employment assistance.

The Stanislaus County Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) recently had a grand opening celebration in downtown Modesto. The youth center, located at 1009 J Street, provides a variety of services to foster youth as they transition into adulthood.

Young adults leaving the foster care system are more likely to experience difficulties as they transition into adulthood. The ILSP Youth Center provides independent living skills, education and employment assistance to help with that transition.

“We are very proud of the ILSP Youth Center,” stated Kathryn Harwell, Director of the Community Services Agency. “We had a vision to create a comfortable place for these youth to get the support they need finding employment, housing and other important services. Child welfare and protection is not just the role of our agency. I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors, our partners and the community for their support.”

From the very beginning, the youth center was a collaborative effort. All stakeholders, including foster youth, were involved in the planning and development of the center.

The ILSP Youth Center is already making a difference. Open since the first week of September, the Center has been busy. “We are seeing an average of 60 youth per week attend classes and an additional 57 utilizing drop-in services,” stated Alma Garcia Mendoza, Center Director.

Banknote paper is now available for authorized certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

The Stanislaus County Clerk / Recorder's Office announced Friday that banknote paper is now available for authorized certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

After the previous vendor suspended their operation without notice, the County was forced to limit the number of certified copies issued in the office. A Canadian supplier has since been found that is able to print the banknote paper containing special security features to protect it from counterfeiting.

Employees from city/county building evacuate as part of ongoing training for emergency situations.

On the morning of November 5, 2015, county and city employees at the Tenth Street Place building in Modesto participated in a drill to safely vacate the building in case of an actual emergency. Staff receive periodic training as to how to evacuate and where to relocate once an evacuation order is given.

Emergency drills may seem like a nuisance to any busy business, but they are vital to emergency preparedness. Running a drill is reliant on several factors: building types, occupancy, identified risks, and the kind of emergencies being tested. Communication plays a big role in all emergency plans.

In a recent email to all building staff, Modesto City Manager Jim Holgersson and County Chief Executive Officer Stan Risen emphasized the importance of evacuation and safety drills. "Real emergencies don't come with advanced warnings,” they stated. “Your safety depends on you being ready to act."

Visitors of the building are evacuated during exercises as well, with their safety a top priority. Designated building employees act as evacuation wardens to help direct employees and visitors from the building to safe locations and ensure that all floors are clear.

Hundreds of people joined together to address the topic of homelessness in the Oakdale community.

Over 200 people participated in a recent summit on homelessness in Oakdale as a follow-up to a regional summit held in early October in downtown Modesto.

The meeting was facilitated by Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer and the Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention Project Manager Ruben Imperial. People took the opportunity to express their concerns about the homeless issue and share their ideas about what would work in their community. The countywide Focus on Prevention Homelessness Initiative was also discussed.

"The meeting was needed and allowed the community to share multiple perspectives regarding the homelessness issue within Oakdale,” stated Whitemyer. He indicated there are already ideas he's pursuing that came as a result of this meeting and the larger countywide summit.

Participants also discussed how to track progress of the initiative and agreed to schedule a follow up meeting in early January, 2016.

County staff is working with other city leaders to convene follow up community meetings from the regional summit. The goal is to align efforts across the cities and communities towards a common set of results. For upcoming meeting schedules or more information, please visit www.preventionfocus.net.

Local commission receives update on development of a new one-stop services center for veterans in Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission recently held its October meeting in Riverbank with nearly 50 people in attendance.

Attendees received an update on a process to receive proposals for the development of a one-stop shop for veterans services in Stanislaus County. The facility would contain a banquet hall, activity and conference rooms, meeting space and social services.

"There are very few public/private partnerships like the County has with the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County as we work toward development of this Veterans Facility,” stated Patricia Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “We look forward to creating this Center to serve our Veterans with our partners."

Community member Diane Talbert also provided a presentation on activities helping Veterans in the Riverbank area.

The next Veterans Advisory Commission Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 23 2015, 5:30 pm at County Center III, 921 County Center III Drive, Modesto.

Six teams from the West Side of Stanislaus County competed to lose pounds and increase their wellness.

The team from Patterson Promotores was crowned the winner of this year's Biggest Loser competition on the West Side of Stanislaus County after losing 65.5 pounds.

The contest was a eight-week event where six teams of 10 people competed for the greatest team weight loss. The total combined weight loss of all the teams totaled nearly 288 pounds.

“This competition continues to motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes," stated Jim DeMartini, Stanislaus County Supervisor and Chairman of the West Side Healthcare Advisory Task Force. “Small changes turn into big changes over time. Our goal is to have a healthier community and this program has been a great start for so many people."

The contest is sponsored annually by the West Side Healthcare Advisory Task Force.

A free health screening and health fair attracted more than 1250 seniors to get empowered and independent.

The 13th Annual Healthy Aging & Fall Prevention Summit brought out more than 1250 older adults and their caregivers who were looking to improve their quality of life.

The event featured health screenings, educational seminars and vendor booths with a host of information on senior-related health issues.

"Older adults are living longer, and it is imperative that communities provide affordable options so this vulnerable population continues to live active, healthy and independent lives," stated Margie Palomino, the Director of the Stanislaus County Department of Aging & Veterans Services. "We want to keep them healthy in their homes and community for as long as possible."

The event was hosted by the Stanislaus Area Agency on Aging, the Healthy Aging Association and Kaiser Permanente with 75 different community organizations representing hospitals, non-profit organizations, county programs, health plans, and retirement communities.

Professional cyclist Benny Madrigal was the keynote speaker on the topic of Living with Diabetes and Achieving Success.

Three Stanislaus County employees were recognized recently as the County announced the 2015 Dale Butler Equal Rights Award Recipients.

Three Stanislaus County employees were recognized recently as the County announced the 2015 Dale Butler Equal Rights Award Recipients.

JoAnn Sarhad (left) from Child Support Services, Christine Ferraro Tallman (middle) the Clerk of the Board, and Ruben Imperial (right) from the Chief Executive's Office were honored for their commitment to equal rights of all in the workplace.

This was the 27th annual awards ceremony by the County which is supported by the County's Equal Rights Commission.

The Annual Dionicio Cruz Celebrating Diversity Award was presented to the City of Modesto/Stanislaus County collaboration for their work on the 2015 Diversity Week Celebration at the Tenth Street Place plaza in downtown Modesto.

The County dedicated a new Coroner's facility that will significantly improve service to the community in a time of need.

Officials from the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors recently dedicated a new Coroner's facility during a public event with more than 150 people in attendance.

The new facility boasts more than 21,300 square feet of space with state-of-the-art equipment and features that will benefit grieving families and the community. The $4.46 million in construction costs were used to renovate a former postal encoding center.

The new location will have significantly more capacity for holding bodies of the deceased. Capacity will increase up to 120 bodies compared to the old facility's 35 bodies. The new location will also better accommodate families of the deceased and provides significant space for a Stanislaus State forensic training program.

A 15th anniversary open house at the County's Probation Department provided the opportunity for culinary academy visit and more.

The County's Probation Department held its 15th annual open house as the community took the opportunity to tour the Juvenile Commitment Facility, meet staff and learn about the services probation provides.

The department's community partnerships were featured including its unique culinary academy which provides job training skills for youth in the Juvenile Commitment Facility.

“The open house is a great opportunity for people to meet our staff and see the progressive ways we are serving our community,” stated Jill Silva, Chief Probation Officer for Stanislaus County. “Our goal is to provide excellent public safety service to the youth, adults and families in Stanislaus County. Our department represents the best qualities of the profession and we want to share our successes with the community we serve.”

Nearly 500 people attended a historic homeless summit in Stanislaus County to examine the widespread issue and how to move forward.

Nearly 500 people attended a historic homeless summit in Stanislaus County to examine the widespread issue and how to move forward.

Participants at the summit included individual community members, homeless individuals, representatives from multiple government agencies as well as non-profit, education and various business sectors.

"We wanted to make a statement today," stated Stan Risen, the Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. "This is your day. It's about all of us coming together as a community."

Speakers at the summit included a number of community members who were homeless or recently homeless. They shared their personal accounts of how being homeless has impacted their lives, including the challenges they face and what assistance is needed.

The summit was the first large-scale community convening as part of the Focus on Prevention initiative being spearheaded by Stanislaus County.

For more information or to get involved in the Focus on Prevention initiative, go to www.PreventionFocus.net or call (209) 225-0315.

County Animal Services staff were called into action as the Butte Fire raged in Amador and Calaveras counties during September.

County Animal Services staff were called into action as the Butte Fire raged in Amador and Calaveras counties during September. They were among many numerous Stanislaus County employees serving in an emergency capacity during the wildfire.

Employees Carly Bozsik, Steve Fielder, Justin Flores, Steve Giblin and Mavis Willliamson served on day and night shifts with a focus on supporting local animal services personnel in the fire area.

“People in the area were numb,” stated Annette Patton, Stanislaus County Director of Animal Services. “To have something like this happening to your family, friends and neighbors is inconceivable. Our staff were honored to pitch in and help the local program, including intaking dogs and reuniting them with their families. ”

The employees served for five days at the fire and noted how amazing it was to watch the community pull together during the crisis.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 3,000 – 49,000 people die from the flu each year in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 3,000 – 49,000 people die from the flu each year in the United States. While the exact number can't be pinpointed, what is clear is that thousands of people die from the flu each year.

But, there is something you can do to protect yourself.

Getting a flu shot is the single most important thing you can do to protect your health and the health of your family. That's why the Stanislaus County Public Health Department is offering many low-cost or free flu vaccinations at more than 15 different special clinics around the County.

“The flu virus can be spread 24 hours before a person is aware they are ill,” stated Dr. John Walker, Public Health Officer for Stanislaus County. “Get the flu vaccine to protect others and those you love.”

The Stanislaus Agricultural Commissioner reported that farm income hit its highest level ever in 2014...

The Stanislaus Agricultural Commissioner reported that farm income hit its highest level ever in 2014 at nearly $4.4 billion dollars. This number is the total value of all agricultural commodities produced last year in Stanislaus County.

Almonds retained the number one position with $1.4 billion in value, followed by milk at $952 million, cattle & calves at $391 million and walnuts at $299 million.

"We must emphasize that this report represents gross values of agricultural commodities and does not reflect production costs or profits," stated Milton O'Haire, Agricultural Commissioner for Stanislaus County. A recent report indicates that because of rising production costs, profits actually decreased by 6%.

The total crop values were up 20% over the 2013 report which showed $3.7 billion in gross production value.

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